The Top 7 Pain Points in Hospitality Procurement and How to Overcome Them
Johannes Vocke | July 24th, 2024
Navigating the Complex World of Conversational AI – Part 2
Travel Outlook, the premier hotel call center™ | July 16th, 2024
The Top 7 Pain Points in Hospitality Procurement and How to Overcome Them
Johannes Vocke | July 24, 2024
By Johannes Vocke, FutureLog Chief Financial Officer Siloed and fragmented procurement software often complicates the procure-to-pay process. Outdated solutions are typically expensive, inflexible, and inefficient, yet many organisations persist in using these antiquated systems. This reliance on old-fashioned procurement management systems hinders operational efficiency. A 2023 Procurement Insights report reveals that 80% of organisations still depend on manual or semi-digital tools to manage their P2P cycle. These businesses typically utilise ERP or accounting software—an approach comparable to using a flashlight to crack a nut. W...
Navigating the Complex World of Conversational AI – Part 2
Travel Outlook, the premier hotel call center™ | July 16, 2024
AI's Role in Hospitality: Enhancing Guest Experience with Conversational AI By John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook July 2024 As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a powerful tool that allows hoteliers to unlock new levels of efficiency. Not all AI is created equal, and what works for one industry may not work for another. In our previous post, we explored the fundamental questions hoteliers should ask when considering AI solutions, focusing on how AI can provide guests with a warm, engaging, and personalized experience. Continue reading below as we dive into the conversati...
HITEC 2024 Welcomes Nearly 6,000 Industry Stakeholders to Explore Latest in Hospitality Technology
HFTP | June 28, 2024
Hospitality professionals traveled from all over the world to Charlotte, North Carolina, June 24-27 for the largest and longest-running show of its kind. The Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) was created over 50 years ago to break barriers and celebrate innovation in the hospitality technology space, a purpose that has resonated with the industry, attracting industry professionals by the thousands annually and making it the largest event of its kind in the world. This year was no exception, with over 5,900 attendees convening for HITEC North America 2024, June 24-27 at the Charlotte Convention Center in ...
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
The popular brands will seamlessly merge with HFTP, further solidifying the association’s position as a leading provider of resources and events for the global hospitality community. June 25, 2024 (Charlotte, N.C.) — Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), the global association for finance and technology professionals in the hospitality industry, has announced the strategic acquisition of several prominent hospitality industry brands. The acquisition includes Hospitality Upgrade, Hotel-Online, the CIO Summit and the Executive Vendor Summit, further solidifying HFTP's position as a leading provider of resou...
SalesAndCatering.com and LodgIQ™ Announce Partnership To Deliver Market-Leading AI Revenue Management for Group Sales
SalesAndCatering.com | June 18, 2024
Seamless integration delivers powerful group commercial optimization capabilities, empowering hotels to make data-driven decisions that accelerate revenue growth and sales performance. Charleston, SC—(June 18, 2024) –SalesAndCatering.com and LodgIQ™ today announced a new strategic partnership to integrate LodgIQ's revolutionary artificial intelligence (AI) revenue management technology into SalesAndCatering’s award-winning group and event management platform, STS Cloud. Effective group revenue management is critical for hotels seeking to maximize revenue and profitability in today’s competitive marketplace. Both companies will wo...
Las Vegas Leads in Meetings and Events Growth in May With an 18.5 Percent Uptick Reports Knowland
KNOWLAND | June 5, 2024
Oahu Island hits 17.9 percent growth with technology and travel groups acting as key drivers to growth ARLINGTON, Va. — June 5, 2024 — Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, reported that Las Vegas took the lead in group business with a solid 18.5 percent growth in May year-over-year (YoY). Oahu Island pulled in second at 17.9 percent YoY growth. This data is sourced from Knowland’s sales intelligence platform and designed to help hoteliers protect and grow their revenue base. The average space used for meetings in the Top 25 markets was 3,615 sq. ft., and ...
Brandt Hospitality Group Getting Great Results From Accounting Software Partner
Aptech | June 5, 2024
The tech-savvy third-party hotel management and ownership company calls Aptech’s PVNG Enterprise Accounting Solution ‘user friendly’ and ‘intuitive’ and says support is ‘best in the industry’; Visit Aptech at HITEC Charlotte June 24-27 in Booth #2644 PITTSBURGH, June 5, 2024 — Brandt Hospitality Group, a third-party hotel management company based in Fargo, N.D., is always looking to be more efficient and keep its overhead costs low. With 17 hotels and 10 different brands in its growing portfolio and ownership in most properties, the operation’s team set out to find a scalable accounting system to deliver on the expectat...
International Visitors Spent Nearly $20.1 Billion Traveling Within the United States in March
National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) | May 23, 2024
Data recently released by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) show that in March 2024: International visitors spent nearly $20.1 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States, an increase of more than 22 percent compared to March 2023 and very close to surpassing pre-COVID levels of monthly spending realized in 2019. Conversely, Americans spent nearly $20.7 billion traveling abroad during March, the thirty-sixth (36) consecutive month of growth, yielding a balance of trade deficit of $591 million for travel and tourism-related goods and services. International visitors have spent nearly $...
The Art of a Great Arrival for Luxury Hotels
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | May 22, 2024
By Adam Mogelonsky, Larry Mogelonsky In the realm of luxury hotels, guests have a highly discerning eye. And as they say, first impressions are everything. Combining these two, it’s no surprise that resorts and other envious properties around the globe spent an inordinate amount of time and money on crafting a great arrival experience. Having the honor of working with some of these over the years, we can say that there are lessons for all that are replicable at the non-luxury level. To start, you must understand the luxury mindset – something we articulate in our ‘Mille Club’ designation and playbook for clients with ‘mille’...
Amadeus Elevates Hotel Operational Standards With Launch of New HotSOS Housekeeping
Amadeus | May 21, 2024
Innovations to the service optimization solution enable hotels to heighten operational excellence while prioritizing profitability May 21, 2024 – In an era defined by heightened guest expectations and evolving market dynamics, hotels face a dual challenge of delivering unparalleled service while ensuring sustainable profitability. As a global leader in hospitality technology, Amadeus is responding to the needs of hoteliers with the new HotSOS Housekeeping. The cutting-edge operations and housekeeping software intelligently leverage automation to drive the productivity needed to succeed in today’s competitive landscape. Build...
CBRE Expects RevPAR Growth to Improve in H2 2024, Driven by Holiday and International Travel
CBRE Group, Inc. | May 16, 2024
Dallas – May 16, 2024 – CBRE expects revenue per available room (RevPAR) growth to improve in the second half of 2024, following a weaker-than-expected first quarter. CBRE’s latest forecast projects a 2.0% increase in RevPAR growth for 2024, down from the 3.0% estimated in February 2024. RevPAR is now expected to grow by 3% for the remainder of the year, driven by international tourists, holiday travel and limited supply growth. CBRE forecasts GDP growth of 2.3% and average inflation of 3.2% in 2024. The performance of the lodging industry is closely tied to the strength of the economy, as there is typically a strong correlation be...
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 ...
Drive More Bookings: Innovative Strategies for Hotel Landing Pages
Lodging Interactive | May 16, 2024
For the past 25 years, it has become evident that most hotels fail to adequately capitalize on opportunities presented by seasonal holidays and event business drivers. The lack of optimization of these revenue opportunities is due in part to two factors: (1) the DOSM simply doesn’t have enough time and resources to organize marketing materials, and (2) the hotel’s website lacks the ability to create marketing landing pages ‘on the fly,’ which rings especially true for branded properties. Today, potential guests are overwhelmed with endless social media distractions; hotels must cut through the noise and guide potential guests strai...
Marina Inn at Grande Dunes Launches New Website
Marina Inn at Grande Dunes | May 15, 2024
Myrtle Beach, SC – May 15, 2024 – Marina Inn at Grande Dunes is excited to announce the launch of our newly redesigned website, now live at https://marinainnatgrandedunes.com. The revamped site offers a fresh, user-friendly design that perfectly captures the elegance and sophistication of our premier resort destination. Enhanced User Experience and Design Our new website showcases a modern, intuitive layout that enhances user experience, making it easier for guests to explore our world-class amenities, accommodations, and services. The site features stunning visuals, detailed information about our offerings, and seamless navigation ...
Nashville Sees Highest Growth in Meetings and Events in April, Up 38 Percent Year-over-Year
KNOWLAND | May 9, 2024
National Associations lead the charge heading into a busy group business season, Knowland reports ARLINGTON, Va. — May 9, 2024 — Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, reported that Nashville saw an uptick in meetings and events in April, growing 38.0 percent year-over-year (YoY). Las Vegas continued a steady climb with 22.8 percent YoY growth. This data is sourced from Knowland’s sales intelligence platform and designed to help hoteliers protect and grow their revenue base. Overall meeting volume growth was flat for the industry at a 1.3 percent increase...
Lodging Interactive Launches Subscription-Based Hotel Website Development and Marketing Services
Lodging Interactive | May 7, 2024
Company launches innovative 'Pay-As-You-Go' hotel website development and marketing service. Lodging Interactive, a leading digital marketing agency specializing in the hospitality industry since 2001, is excited to announce the launch of its innovative 'Pay-As-You-Go' hotel website development and marketing service. This service offers hotel operators the flexibility to minimize upfront costs while benefiting from comprehensive website development and marketing solutions. "At Lodging Interactive, we pride ourselves on crafting websites that not only captivate but convert," said DJ Vallauri, Founder and CEO of Lodging Intera...
Maestro PMS Launches MezzoPay Embedded Payments; Excitement Abounds Among Clients to Install the Enhanced, Seamless, Secure Payment Offering
Maestro PMS | May 7, 2024
Hospitality’s premier all-in-one property-management system provider improves payment processing usability, security, and sophistication Markham, Ontario, May 7, 2024 — Maestro PMS, a Web Browser-based cloud and on-premises all-in-one property-management system, announced the addition of MezzoPay as its new embedded payment processing solution. Powered by Fullsteam, MezzoPay equips hoteliers with the ability to offer seamless and secure transaction capabilities directly embedded within the hotel PMS. Using MezzoPay, hotels partnered with Maestro PMS can eliminate the need for third-party payment processing gateways. MezzoPay is clo...
Google Trailing Behind Instagram, TikTok: How Social Media Is Changing the Travel Search Landscape
Lodging Interactive | April 29, 2024
Recent studies highlight a significant trend: Gen Z (aged 18 - 24) is turning to social media for their travel searches. This age group bypasses Google in favor of visually-driven platforms like Instagram (67%) and TikTok (62%) to find places to stay. It used to be that you’d find the perfect hotel by contacting local travel agencies or searching on good old Google. But a new report shows that search methods are changing, especially for Gen Z consumers. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are becoming increasingly popular for discovering hotels. Why the Shift? Recent studies highlight a significant trend: G...
U.S. Group Business Delivers Higher Q1 Performance Year-Over-Year According to Hospitality Group and Business Performance Index by Knowland and Amadeu
KNOWLAND | April 23, 2024
Larger events and other business segment improvements promote stability ARLINGTON, Va. — April 23, 2024 — Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, and Amadeus, a leading technology provider for the travel industry, today present the metrics from the companies’ Hospitality Group and Business Performance Index (the “Index”). Beginning with the first quarter of 2024, the Index now focuses on year-over-year (YOY) performance. This first report shows the group health index is 102.3 percent YOY and six of the top 25 U.S. markets have achieved 110 percent compared ...
GCommerce Partners With Jonas Chorum as Its Preferred Metasearch Provider
Jonas Chorum | April 17, 2024
Metadesk, powered by GCommerce, has established a partnership with Jonas Chorum its preferred provider for metasearch management solutions. Jonas Chorum, a subsidiary of Jonas Hospitality, is an industry-leading provider of hotel management solutions, trusted by 1,200+ hotels. Their suite of products includes a hotel PMS, CRS, POS, as well as guest and staff mobile apps. Their commitment to providing distinctive, guest-centric technology resonates seamlessly with Metadesk’s objective of enhancing direct bookings while prioritizing the overall guest experience. Key benefits of the expanded partnership include: Strategic Market...
A Case Study in Optimizing Length of Stay From Wellness Capex
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | April 17, 2024
By Adam Mogelonsky The word ‘optimization’ in today’s world implies the use of data and metrics for continuous business improvement, but it also implies making tradeoffs and devoting limited resources to certain goals ahead of others. For today’s hospitality world, we are confronted by so many data points, so many partners or siloed interests and so many different activities vying for our attention or capital. To make informed, strategic decisions that will unify various operations towards a common objective, hoteliers and owners must carefully pick the key performance indicators (KPIs) that they will optimize and prioritize. Wh...
Hotel X Supercharges Marketing With Automation and Dynamic Content
Hapi | April 11, 2024
The 404-room resort in Toronto implemented Salesforce Sales and Marketing Cloud for rich guest profiles and personalized guest journeys, but needed Hapi’s experienced hospitality team to access the necessary data. Located on Lake Ontario just five minutes from bustling Union Station in downtown Toronto, it’s hard to imagine there’s room for a full-service luxury resort. But stroll the 6-acre grounds of Hotel X, which opened in March 2018 as part of the Library Hotel Collection, and you’ll find multiple restaurants, a 90,000-square-foot fitness facility, a spa, a kids play center, cinema screening room, tennis, squash and pickleball...
Hoteliers To Gather in Toronto for Maestro PMS’s Sold Out ‘Accelerate 2024 Users Conference’; Game-Changing Tech to Be Showcased
Maestro PMS | April 9, 2024
Invitation-only event will feature expansion to sought after all-in-one solutions by this popular PMS provider; NEW Maestro Embedded Payments Solution and NEW Client Reference Incentive Program to be introduced among other new features Markham, Ontario, April 9, 2024 — Next week users of the widely popular Maestro PMS platform, a Web Browser based cloud and on-premises all-in-one property-management system, will gather at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto for the SOLD OUT “Accelerate 2024” users conference. The four-day event, to be held April 15 to 18, will enable attendees to exchange ideas, build alliances, and leverage innovative ...
St. Louis Leads in Growth for Meetings Madness in March, According to Knowland Data
KNOWLAND | April 4, 2024
An early Easter and the accompanying spring breaks bring a decrease of 8.1 percent in March meetings ARLINGTON, Va. — April 4, 2024 — Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, reported that the St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. market led the top 25 markets in March for meetings and events growth with 24.3 percent year-over-year growth. Las Vegas came in second with 20.9 percent growth. National Association and Education groups led in four of the five top markets. This data is sourced from Knowland’s sales intelligence platform and designed to help hoteliers protect and grow th...