HFTP® Acquires Leading Hospitality Industry Brands: Hospitality Upgrade, Hotel-Online, The CIO Summit and The Executive Vendor Summit
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25, 2024
Industry Happenings
HSMAI Americas Announces 2024 Marketing and Revenue Optimization Honorees
HSMAI | May 30, 2024
McLean, VA (May 30, 2024) – The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Americas is proud to introduce the 2024 Marketing and Revenue Optimization award recipients who will be celebrated during HSMAI’s Commercial Strategy Conference. HSMAI will honor Dr. Kelly McGuire, managing principal of hospitality at ZS Associates, with the prestigious Vanguard Award for Achievement in Revenue Optimization. Scott Dahl, senior vice president of sales, marketing, and revenue management at Wurzak Hotel Group, and Taylor Baca, CRME, CHDM, corporate director of revenue management at Balboa Bay Resort & Club, will be pr...
Famed Chef, Restaurateur and Humanitarian José Andrés Announced as Keynote Session for The Hospitality Show 2024
The Hospitality Show | May 30, 2024
Join us in San Antonio at the Henry B. González Convention Center Oct. 28-30, 2024. Apply for media credentials here. NEW YORK - Internationally recognized culinary innovator, author, educator and humanitarian José Andrés has been announced as the opening keynote session speaker for the second iteration of The Hospitality Show, produced by Questex and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). Additional speakers and programming updates will be announced in the coming months. In this lively discussion on Monday, Oct. 28, titled “Changing the World Through the Power of Food,” Andrés will share his passion for aff...
AAHOA Welcomes Memorial Day Travel Reports; Looks Forward to Strong Summer
AAHOA | May 29, 2024
ATLANTA, GA, May 29—AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) welcomes the good news about the record highway and air travel numbers set over Memorial Day weekend and is optimistic about the tone it sets for summer travel. "With the summer travel season underway, the numbers from Memorial Day weekend travel, considered the kickoff to summer, indicate great things for America's hotel industry during the upcoming summer months," AAHOA Chairman Miraj S. Patel said. The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) reported a staggering 2.95 million travelers were screened at U.S. airports on Friday, May 24, surpassing a previous record ...
Patricia Affonso-Dass of Ocean Hotels Group in Barbados Named Caribbean Hotelier of the Year
Ocean Hotels Group, Barbados | May 28, 2024
Affonso-Dass accepts Caribbean Hotelier of the Year award at Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Montego Bay, Jamaica Saint Lawrence Gap, Barbados – May 28, 2024 – Patricia Affonso-Dass, CEO/Group General Manager General Manager of Ocean Hotels Group in Barbados, was named the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Hotelier of the Year. Affonso-Dass was announced the winner at the CHTA 2024 Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Montego Bay, Jamaica on May 21, 2024. “I consider myself immensely fortunate and blessed to have been awarded this honor,” said Affonso-Dass. “I have been privileged to know many of the past recipients,...
Rising Star Award Presented to Brittany Brathwaite From Ocean Hotels Barbados at Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit
Ocean Hotels Barbados | May 28, 2024
Saint Lawrence Gap, Barbados – May 2024 – The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) in partnership with Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) presented Brittany Brathwaite, Chief People and Development Strategist of Ocean Hotels Group Barbados & Chickmont Foods Ltd, with the prestigious Rising Star Award Caribbean. “I’m truly humbled to be the recipient of the 2024 Rising Star Award – Caribbean,” said Brathwaite. “At my core, I’m driven by the ethos of adding value, through my efforts, to every space I occupy. To have those efforts recognized by the Caribbean’s top tourism leaders is...
Hospitality in the Time of COVID-19
School of Hotel and Tourism Management | May 28, 2024
Hospitality employees’ stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic and their later career trajectories may depend on both their experiences in the workplace and personal traits, according to Dr Wei-Jue Huang of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and co-authors. Hospitality work is demanding, and the pandemic and associated economic crisis may have led hospitality workers to reconsider their career trajectories. Through direct interviews with current and former employees in the U.S. hospitality industry, the researchers explored how workplace experiences during the pandemic affected these...
Taking the “Swift Lift” Overseas
U.S. Travel Association | May 24, 2024
By Joshua Friedlander This summer, millions of Americans will travel to Europe, many to visit historical cities and one-of-a-kind beaches like Sitges, Biarritz, Tropea and Mykonos. But in Europe this year there is another one-of-a-kind attraction drawing travelers from the States in record numbers—the European leg of Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour. Taylor's record-setting concerts across the U.S. in 2023 made fans and economists alike rethink the impact an artist can have on a city or region. With ticket prices regularly reaching 4-digit levels, and fans traveling distances reminiscent of festivals like Coachella, the economic impac...
HSMAI Foundation Releases Special Report on The Transformational Power of ‘Commercial’
the HSMAI Foundation | May 24, 2024
McLean, VA (May 24, 2024) – The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation has released a special report, “From Solos to Symphony. The Transformational Power of ‘Commercial’,” which outlines the findings of the HSMAI Foundation’s study on how industry professionals conceptualize the role and scope of commercial strategy within the hotel industry. The report is authored by Breffni M. Noone, Associate Professor at The Pennsylvania State University, and Chris Boyd, Revenue Management Specialist at Hilton. As ‘Commercial’ and ‘Commercial Strategy’ are relatively new additions to the ho...
International Tourism Reached 97% of Pre-Pandemic Levels in the First Quarter of 2024
UN Tourism | May 21, 2024
International tourist arrivals reached 97% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2024. According to UN Tourism, more than 285 million tourists traveled internationally in January-March, about 20% more than the first quarter of 2023, underscoring the sector’s near-complete recovery from the impacts of the pandemic. In 2023 international tourist arrivals recovered 89% of 2019 levels and export revenues from tourism 96%, while direct tourism GDP reached the same levels as in 2019. UN Tourism’s projection for 2024 points to a full recovery of international tourism with arrivals growing 2% above 2019 levels. In line with this, the...
Summer Travel Poll: 61% of Americans Likely To Travel for Leisure
AHLA | May 21, 2024
Inflation remains a significant obstacle to economic growth for the hotel industry WASHINGTON (May 21, 2024) – Sixty-one percent of Americans plan to travel overnight for leisure in the next four months and 34% of Americans expect to increase their overnight leisure travel this summer compared to last year, according to a new survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and conducted by Morning Consult. The poll found that 31% of Americans said they plan to increase their number of hotel stays this summer compared to last summer. Regarding business travel, 35% of Americans said they expect to take an ov...
HFTP Announces 2024 Inductees to the Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame: Floor Bleeker and Terence Ronson; Honored at HITEC 2024 Next Month
HFTP | May 21, 2024
The industry icons will be recognized for their influential roles in advancing hospitality technology in a special presentation on June 25, 2024. Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is pleased to announce two champions of hospitality technology, Floor Bleeker and Terence Ronson, as the 2024 HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame inductees, both recognized for their service in innovating hospitality in the EMEA and APAC regions respectively. Bleeker is Accor Group’s chief technology officer, leading and providing oversight of technology strategy for all of the group’s hospitality businesses around t...
Americans Expect to Spend a Record-Breaking $221 Billion on Summer Vacations This Year
Allianz Partners | May 20, 2024
Allianz Partners USA's 16th Annual Vacation Confidence Index Projects Americans' Travel Spend to Reach All-Time High This Summer RICHMOND, Va., May 20, 2024 - Americans continue to signal that travel is splurge-worthy and are again setting new records for vacation spending in 2024. For a second consecutive year, Allianz Partners USA's annual Vacation Confidence Index* found that Americans' total spend on summer vacations is expected to remain north of the $200 billion mark, this year exceeding $221.6 billion. According to the travel insurance and assistance provider, Americans have more than doubled their projected summer vacation...
Marriott International Celebrates the 2024 J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence Honorees
Marriott International | May 16, 2024
Annual ceremony honors Marriott associates for exemplary achievements and outstanding service to communities, guests and each other Marriott International is proud to celebrate the winners of the 2024 J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence at the company’s annual ceremony, which brought together associates from around the world. Established in 1987 and named after Marriott’s founder, the J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence honors the company’s finest associates who are recognized for their achievements, service mindset, and commitment to excellence. At the awards ceremony, the 10 individual winners, three Marriott properties ...
Cvent Announces Top Meeting Destinations and Hotels Worldwide for 2024
Cvent | May 15, 2024
The industry-acclaimed annual rankings recognize the top-performing hotels for group business, as well as the world’s most coveted meeting and event destinations TYSONS CORNER, VA & Frankfurt, DE – May 15, 2024 – Cvent, an industry-leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider, today announced its lists of the Top Meeting Destinations and Top Meeting Hotels worldwide. These annual lists – which are issued regionally for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa – are informed by sourcing activity through the Cvent Supplier Network, one of the world’s largest venue-sourci...
Travel Leaders Share Impact of IPW on International Inbound
U.S. Travel Association | May 14, 2024
Last week, U.S. Travel welcomed 5,700 attendees, including 2,000 international buyers and media from nearly 70 countries—an impressive 20% increase from last year––to IPW in Los Angeles. Each IPW not only cultivates valuable connections and knowledge-sharing but also serves as an economic catalyst, driving over $5.5 billion in future travel to the U.S. by spotlighting the very best of what our country has to offer. There is a decade of opportunity ahead as the United States prepares to welcome millions of new travelers to major events in destinations nationwide, such as Copa America this summer, the FIFA World Cup games and Americ...
Tripadvisor Predicts Busy Summer Travel Season for Americans; An Increasing Desire for Adventure
Tripadvisor, Inc. | May 14, 2024
NEEDHAM, Mass., May 14, 2024 -- Americans and travelers around the world continue to place a high priority on summer vacations, according to the annual Summer Travel Index released today by Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform. In fact, 95 percent of respondents are planning to travel as much (51%) or more (44%) than last summer, despite some concern about economic headwinds. Whatsmore, over a quarter (26%) of Americans are planning to spend $5,000 or more on their getaways. Tripadvisor's Summer Travel Index also highlights the top summer destinations for 2024, with Las Vegas claiming the top spot for US domestic ...
New Jersey Franchise Bill Takes Dangerous Step Forward, Despite Significant Concerns Expressed by Majority of Committee
AHLA | May 14, 2024
WASHINGTON (May 13, 2024) – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey released the following statement today after a committee in the New Jersey Assembly approved A3495, a bill that would destroy the hotel industry in the state. The bill is still being considered in the state Assembly, and similar legislation (S2336) is pending in the state Senate. “If A3495 and S2336 become law, they will lower hotels’ quality, service, and safety standards and drive many brand-name hotels out of the state. On behalf of New Jersey’s more than 45,000 hotel employees, we urge lawmakers to rethink th...
UN Tourism Launches Second Edition of Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East
UN Tourism | May 9, 2024
UN Tourism has launched the second edition of its Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East. The initiative aims to highlight and support women entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of sustainable tourism and technology across the region. Applications now Open The competition targets startups that are led by women and based in the Middle East. Enterprises must be operating within the tourism sector and related industries, and offer sustainable solutions for people, the planet, and prosperity. They must also be an entrepreneurial project at an early stage, idea stage, or Series A stage of their journey. Applications are open for th...
Choice Hotels International Concludes 68th Annual Convention, One of Its Largest Ever
Choice Hotels | May 9, 2024
Highlights included the relaunch of Park Inn by Radisson, the reintroduction of the SOAR program to create hotel ownership opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs, and awards for top hotels NORTH BETHESDA, Md., May 9, 2024 -- Last week, Choice Hotels International (NYSE: CHH) concluded its 68th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, NV, one of the largest to date. Over the course of three days, Choice provided owners and operators with a roadmap on how together they will capitalize on their competitive position to capture the growing demand for travel. Choice announced the relaunch of Park Inn by Radisson and its strategic reposit...
At U.S. Travel’s IPW, Leaders Say Government Must Increase Focus to Achieve Travel Growth
U.S. Travel Association | May 7, 2024
LOS ANGELES - At U.S. Travel’s IPW – the largest generator of international inbound travel to the United States – association President and CEO Geoff Freeman shared a vision to make travel a national priority, solve barriers to visitation growth, and become the most-visited nation in the world. “It should be our national goal to be nothing short of number one in terms of visitor arrivals, visitor spend and visitor experience,” Freeman said. “But our ambitions are constrained by excessively long wait times for visitor visas, often-lengthy waits at customs, and an air traffic control system that is challenged to meet demand. A...
The American Privacy Rights Act – What Does It Mean for Hotel Companies?
Bob Braun | May 6, 2024
By Robert Braun On April 7, 2024, the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce released the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA). While every Congress for more than a decade has introduced multiple proposals to address privacy rights on a national scale, none have gained traction, and while there’s every reason to suspect that the APRA will meet the same fate – headwinds are coming from the states that have already adopted comprehensive privacy statutes, and it is notoriously difficult to adopt legislation in an election year, and especially now), the APRA is being taken seriously, and might be the basis for a long-awaited, a...
Hawai‘i Passes Landmark Legislation to Rein In Illegal Short-Term Rentals, Help Keep Housing Affordable for Aloha State Residents
AHLA | May 6, 2024
Law ensures local control over lodging taxes and regulations WASHINGTON (May 6, 2024) – Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green today signed into law landmark legislation (SB 2919) that grants local governments the power to regulate short-term rentals to meet the needs of their communities. This legislation will give localities the power to rein in short-term rentals that have taken over local communities and bring back affordable housing for hotel employees and other Hawai‘i residents. The law ensures Hawai‘i counties have the authority to tax and regulate short-term rentals by the same standards as hotels, designate them as a non-residential ...
AHLA Statement on Presidential Veto of Legislation to Overturn Joint-Employer Rule
AHLA | May 6, 2024
WASHINGTON (May 6, 2024) – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey released the following statement after President Biden vetoed legislation that would have overturned the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) dangerous joint-employer rule: “We’re disappointed the president vetoed this bill and ignored the serious concerns of AHLA’s 30,000-plus members, the courts, and Democrats and Republicans in Congress,” said AHLA Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey. “Thankfully, a federal court has already intervened and is blocking the administration from implementing its job-kil...
AHLA Workforce Report: Hotels Add 1,200 Jobs in April
AHLA | May 6, 2024
WASHINGTON (May 6, 2024) – U.S. hotels added 1,200 jobs to their payrolls in April, according to the latest government data that shows employment in the industry is still far from pre-pandemic levels. Total hotel employment stands at about 1.92 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s 193,600 fewer workers in the industry than in February 2020, just before the pandemic hit. “Hotels are doing all they can to attract and retain workers, but the nationwide workforce shortage is preventing our industry from reaching its full potential,” said AHLA Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey. “AHLA members need...