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The Case Against QR Menus
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | December 8, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky Menus are an important aspect of the overall presentation of a hotel restaurant. Indeed, a whole book on proper menu design could be written, with inventory arrangements, fonts, graphics, spacing, types of paper, menu backings and all other stylistic concerns outlined as contributing factors for a guest’s overall appreciation of the dining outlet. The pandemic has thrown a wrench in this marketing and sentiment-boosting tool as many customers now expect menus to be accessible on their phones via a QR code. The benefit for the restaurant is certainly there in the form of saving on printing costs, but it’s...
November U.S. Meetings and Events Reflect Normal Seasonality Trends, Knowland Reports
Knowland | December 8, 2021
Average attendees per event outpaces the same period in 2019, offering positive indication for group business recovery ARLINGTON, Va. — Dec. 8, 2021— Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, today released monthly meetings and events data for November. Although November U.S. group meeting volume decreased 12.4 percent over October 2021, this decline reflects normal seasonality trends for this time of year with less of a decrease than pre-pandemic trends. The average number of attendees per event continues its strong performance outpacing the same period in 2019 f...
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 258: Hotel History: The Willard Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Stanley Turkel | December 7, 2021
by Stanley Turkel, CMHS Hotel History: Willard Hotel (394 rooms) The Willard InterContinental Washington, commonly known as the Willard Hotel, is a historic luxury Beaux-Arts hotel located at 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in downtown Washington, D.C. Among its facilities are numerous luxurious guest rooms, several restaurants, the famed Round Robin Bar, the Peacock Alley series of luxury shops, and voluminous function rooms. Owned by InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, it is two blocks east of the White House, and two blocks west of the Metro Center station of the Washington Metro. The National Park Service and the U.S. Department o...
Hotels Must Embrace Remote Work
Vikram Singh | December 1, 2021
By Vikram Singh After my last pandemic-focused article, my inbox was flooded with queries about remote work. I had urged hotels to embrace remote work and stop putting geographical restrictions on hiring the best talent. Most of the emails I received questioned the long-term feasibility of remote work, especially for a hotel organization. I want to address some of these concerns and share some further thoughts on how work/office culture is already changing. Obviously, some jobs can never be performed remotely (front desk, housekeeping, etc). However, remote work is already having a direct impact on the hotel and travel industry, and t...
Tech Platforms Set to Converge in 2022
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | November 24, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky Lean operations are the name of the game as we prepare for an interesting year ahead. While international travel has reopened and the vaccine has boosted confidence, news stories emerging over the winter months may cause a full recovery to sputter. Right now, there’s a COVID-19 surge in Europe with more lockdowns imminent, while the hotel industry continues to contend with the macro trends of labor and supply chain shortages. Putting all this together, we can’t definitely say that 2022 will see a full-fledged return to 2019 occupancy numbers. To keep a healthy operating margin and still uphold quality se...
8 Qualities of Top Performing Hotel Call Center Agents
Travel Outlook | November 17, 2021
How to pick a call center that’s right for your property Hotels in 2021 have a lot of catching up to do. 2020 and the first half of 2021 presented the hospitality industry with a whirlwind of challenges that still linger today. The road to recovery is just ahead, and many hotels are starting to rethink their sales strategies going forward. The events of 2020 forever changed the way we travel. Traveler’s want hospitality delivered on their terms, and it is up to hotels to pivot to meet those needs. One way hotels are rising to the occasion and meeting the needs of travelers is by utilizing a professional hotel call center to man ...
Stayntouch and EOS Hospitality Expand Partnership to Deliver Flexible & Intuitive Cloud PMS to 6 Red Jacket Resorts Properties
Stayntouch | November 17, 2021
Stayntouch, a global leader in guest-centric cloud hotel property management systems (PMS) and contactless technology, today announced an expansion to its existing partnership with EOS Hospitality, a fully integrated hospitality investment firm focusing on upscale urban markets and resort destinations. Stayntouch will now deliver its full cloud PMS solution to Red Jacket Resorts, a group of six family-friendly luxury resorts based in New England. Red Jacket features six properties in Cape Cod and North Conway, boasting over 650+ rooms, suites, and vacation homes, as well as a 40,000 square-foot indoor waterpark. With deep connections to bo...
Nobody Asked Me, But…. No. 257: Hotel History: El Tovar & Hopi Gift Shop
Stanley Turkel | November 16, 2021
by Stanley Turkel, CMHS Hotel History: El Tovar Hotel (95 rooms) and The Hopi House Gift Shop One hundred and sixteen years ago, two architectural jewels opened in the Grand Canyon National Park: the 95-room El Tovar Hotel and the adjacent Hopi House Gift Shop. Both reflected the foresight and entrepreneurship of Frederick Henry Harvey whose business ventures included restaurants, hotels, railroad dining cars, gift shops and newsstands. His partnership with the Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fe Railway introduced many new tourists to the American Southwest by making rail travel and dining comfortable and adventurous. Employing many Native-A...
youtip Digital Tipping Platform Named ‘Most Innovative Startup of the Year’
youtip | November 16, 2021
Contactless and cashless digital tipping platform is recognized at Phocuswright Conference for its technical innovation, business value, and potential effect on the marketplace Hollywood, FL— November 16, 2021 — Digital tipping platform youtip was named “Most Innovative Startup of the Year” yesterday during the 27th Annual Phocuswright Conference. youtip Co-Founder and CEO Doug Miles presented the solution to a panel of judges during the event’s Innovation: Summit Awards program. Vying against seven other companies, youtip emerged as the leading “innovation poised for major breakout in the next year and beyond.” �...
Where Have All the Breadbaskets Gone?
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | November 10, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky Before the pandemic, it was quite customary in restaurants to whet the appetite with the tableside delivery of a breadbasket, or some variation of a small loaf of bread, as a welcome to the establishment. There has always been a positive symbolism with this act, as breaking bread not only increases meal satisfaction by alleviating any hunger pangs but also implies a deeper sense of trust and camaraderie. There’s more here on the psychological and monetary front. The bread serves as a timing delay tactic, giving the kitchen more time to prepare the selected appetizers and mains while simultaneously easing t...
youtip Vying for ‘Most Innovative Startup of the Year’ at Phocuswright Event
youtip | November 10, 2021
Contactless and cashless digital tipping platform recognized by analysts as an “innovation poised for major breakouts in the next year and beyond”; youtip is one of eight companies nominated for the top honor, along with a chance to be named the ‘People's Choice’ Chicago, IL — November 10, 2021 —When it comes to technology innovation, few companies are disrupting the travel and hospitality industries like youtip, the simplest, fastest, app free digital tipping solution. Next week at The Phocuswright Conference, youtip Co-Founder and CEO Doug Miles will present the enterprise system for digital gratuity to a panel of judges or ...
Knowland Releases First-of-Its-Kind Future Event Activity Forecast
KNOWLAND | November 10, 2021
Leveraging 15-plus years of historical meetings and events data, Knowland releases a quarterly U.S. Meetings Recovery Forecast to help hoteliers better anticipate and plan forward-looking group business ARLINGTON, VA — November 10, 2021— Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, today released a U.S. Meetings Recovery Forecast (MRF) to provide the hospitality industry with predictive insights into event recovery over the next three years. The company will update the model quarterly and the data will be available for anyone to view online. To see the most current project...
Are You Looking for The Next Generation Minibar Program With Guaranteed Guest Satisfaction?
Minibar Systems | November 5, 2021
Introducing the newly designed SmartCube Dual Wi-Fi – A fully automated minibar and fridge system for your guests Rockville, MD - Minibar Systems is proud to present the newly designed SmartCube Dual minibar and fridge model which builds on the long-term success of our SmartCube product lineup. SmartCube has a modern, minimalist design and is the world’s most technologically advanced minibar featuring the first completely plug-and-play modular system and easy-to-use attendant refill tablets. It features a fully automated minibar and a personal use refrigerator for your guests, eliminating guests from storing personal items alongside re...
Two Pizzas for Hotel Manager Meetings
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | November 3, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky Amidst a labor shortage, hotels the world over are looking to do more with less, be it digitalizing or automating processes, devising new recruitment strategies, increasing the reward structure to prevent employee, churn, or ramping up team productivity by whatever means necessary. All are good ventures, but instead of only focusing on the ‘staff’ we must also take a sharper look at the ‘manager’. In a lean organizational structure, many managers or supervisors have become, to borrow from baseball, pinch hitters for other departments or all-round utility players able to complete a variety of tasks fo...
Knowland Reports October U.S. Meetings and Events Volume Growth Up More Than 30 Percent Over September 2021
Knowland | November 3, 2021
Corporate market segment realizes a significant increase in percentage of overall business representing nearly 70 percent of the meeting and event business ARLINGTON, VA — November 3, 2021— Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, today released monthly meetings and events data for October. The numbers reveal that October U.S. group meetings volume increased 30.4 percent over September 2021. Average attendees per event remains stronger than 2019 for the second month in a row. Additionally, average space used was still higher than 2019, however the gap between these ...
Boykin Management Chooses Maestro PMS to Power Its Coastal Condo Resort Hotels
Maestro PMS | November 2, 2021
Multi-property operator aligns with hospitality’s trusted and proven provider of cloud and on-premises Web and Mobile property-management systems to improve operations, from accounting and communications to training and retention MARKHAM, ONTARIO, November 2, 2021 — Hoteliers are facing mounting pressure to consistently deliver high levels of service, but labor challenges and the rising cost of doing business are limiting their options. This environment pushed Boykin Management, a Cornelius, N.C.-based independent hotel management company, to seek out and adopt the Maestro Cloud property-management system at two resorts in Fort Myers B...
Cendyn and Pegasus to Merge
Cendyn | November 2, 2021
The merger of Cendyn and Pegasus provides hoteliers with a platform to maximize the direct-booking channel, enhancing the guest experience end-to-end Tuesday, November 2, 2021 – London, UK – Today Cendyn, the leading provider of cloud-based software and eCommerce services for the hospitality industry, enters into a merger agreement with Pegasus, a leading provider of revenue and distribution solutions for the hospitality industry. The combination of both companies provides hoteliers with a platform to maximize their direct-booking channel and enhance the guest experience across every touchpoint. With many hoteliers struggling with reso...
Global Hotel Performance Moderates With Summer’s Close
HotStats | October 28, 2021
The cold hard truth is arriving with the chillier weather: global hotel performance has a ways to go before it's back to its former self. In the U.S., there is, however, cause for optimism. First, COVID case count: According to The Washington Post, new coronavirus infections in the country have dropped nearly 60 percent since a September spike due to the Delta variant. The seven-day average is also down some 58% since a mid-September infection peak. Coupled with a decreasing case count is the recent Biden administration decision to lift COVID-19 travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international visitors beginning November 8, a ...
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 256: Hotel History: Severin Hotel Indianapolis, Indiana
Stanley Turkel | October 27, 2021
by Stanley Turkel, CMHS Hotel History: Severin Hotel (424 rooms) The original Hotel Severin opened in 1913 when it replaced the Grand Hotel of Indianapolis. Its location directly across Jackson Place from the Union Station made it the favorite hotel for passengers on the 300 daily trains. It was built by Henry Severin, Jr., the heir to a wholesale grocery fortune, with help from real estate developers Carl Graham Fisher and James A. Allison, who had built the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The hotel was designed by Vonnegut and Bohn, an architectural firm active in early to mid-twentieth-century Indianapolis. When Bernard Vonnegut, ...
Hospitality on Their Own Terms
Travel Outlook | October 27, 2021
Travelers Expect More, Here’s How Hotels Can Keep Up As the hospitality industry begins to step out of the shadow of the COVID Pandemic, one question remains after a year-and-a-half of uncertainty, “what do travelers want now?” The events of 2020 forever altered the way we travel. While the industry has been able to successfully adapt after the hardships of the last year, we must address the fact that travelers’ wants and needs have changed. Every aspect of travel was impacted by the events of the last year, from how travelers book their stay to what they expect out of their hotel experience. So, how can hospitality professional...
stayntouch and SHR Enhance Their Cloud Integration, Delivering Transparency and Control to Revenue Management
Stayntouch | October 27, 2021
Stayntouch, a global leader in cloud hotel property management systems (PMS) and contactless technology, today announced an enhancement to its partnership with Sceptre Hospitality Resources (SHR), a pioneer of advanced hotel revenue management technologies. Stayntouch PMS now integrates with SHR’s Wave revenue management system (RMS). SHR Wave RMS leverages the latest in artificial intelligence to create an advanced and transparent RMS with a human touch. Wave unburdens revenue managers from having to blindly trust the ‘black box’ of most legacy RMS platforms. Instead, Wave users can leverage a transparent Strategy Builder Tool, whic...
Six Crazy Wellness Ideas for the Decade Ahead
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | October 20, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky While everyone is still looking to mitigate the ongoing staffing shortages, it’s also important to ponder what’s possible in the years (or decades) to come and to ask the question, “What if?” After all, if you don’t think about what the future can hold for your hotel, then the market will choose for you, and the result may not be in the favor. As the ‘wellness’ industry recovers from the pandemic, it’s simultaneously branching out into new niches by incorporating new trends or technologies to maintain branding moats and offer more lucrative services. The world is only going to get crazier, so...
In the Battle for Recovery, Choice Is KING!
Michael Heflin | October 20, 2021
By Michael Heflin Although we appear to be moving past the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospitality market seems to be recovering by fits and starts. By July 2021 for example, Daily TSA Passenger Throughput 一 a common proxy to measure travel volume 一 reached approximately 80% of pre-pandemic levels. While customers are eager to get back to traveling, they are still significantly concerned about their health and safety, and what travel in this “new normal” will look and feel like. Of course, different market segments continue to express different risk tolerances, different goals for travel, and different perceptions of the...
New Hotel to Rise in Los Angeles’ Miracle Mile
CGI+ Real Estate Investment Strategies | October 19, 2021
The transit-oriented development will bring first institutional-quality hotel to the area Woodland Hills, CA (October 19, 2021) -- CGI+ Real Estate Strategies has received full entitlements and will begin development on a major hotel/multifamily/retail multi-use project at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles’s Miracle Mile District. The transit-oriented development at 639 S. La Brea, which takes up nearly half a city block along the west side of La Brea, is immediately adjacent to Metro’s Wilshire/La Brea subway station now under construction. The eight-story development is the result of nearly...
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