George Seli - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 5

6 min

Speaking With One Voice: 2025 AHLA Board Chair Mitch Patel on Advocacy Achievements Through Unity

🏨 Mitch Patel, CEO of Vision Hospitality Group, appointed as 2025 board chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), taking over from 2024 chair Kevin Jacobs. Patel emphasizes advocacy, storytelling, and unity in the hospitality industry, aiming to ensure voices are heard on Capitol Hill. He plans to continue AHLA’s five-year strategy, focusing on the Hospitality Show and No Room For Trafficking initiative. Patel advocates for legislative benefits like extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and lodging fee transparency, while addressing challenges such as workforce shortages and inflation.

2 min

An Exemplar of Sustainable Design

🏡 Completed in January, the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui, Hawaii underwent a renovation. Regan McLean, NCIDQ, senior designer at Parker Torres Design Inc., led the project emphasizing authentic Hawaiian design with locally sourced materials like monkeypod wood. The space features vibrant colors reflecting local flowers and sunsets, with suppliers like Valley Forge Fabrics and Neil Allen Industries contributing. Design elements include intimate lighting and patterns mimicking Maui’s landscape, with a focus on environmental impact reduction.

3 min

Certification Checklist: Preparation Paves the Way to a Successful Audit

🛒 Stefan Mühle of Noble House Hotels & Resorts advises on sustainability certification for hoteliers. Key steps include reviewing guidelines, conducting internal audits, creating a timeline, forming a "Green Team," and maintaining documentation such as 12-month utility bills. Regular training, clear communication with certifiers, and budgeting for upgrades are essential. Audit preparation involves accessible records, data on consumption metrics, using benchmarking tools, and understanding changing certification criteria. Continuous improvement and engagement with certifiers support recertification efforts.

1 min

A Multisensory Experience and Bespoke Design

🏖 Casa Loma Beach Hotel in Laguna Beach, California, underwent a $15 million transformation by Marc & Rose Hospitality, involving firms Electric Bowery, LAND, and ORCA. The renovated hotel features immersive art, like a lobby mural and hand-painted canvas tapestries, vintage lobby sound system, and European seaside food and beverage program with Madre agave spirits and tapas-style bites. Soundscapes are curated by Uncanned, enhancing the multisensory experience.

6 min

Green Stamp of Approval: The Rationale and Route to Obtaining a Sustainability Certification

📍 Certified sustainability in hotels enhances marketability, reduces risk, and can increase revenue. Stefan Mühle of Noble House Hotels & Resorts stresses the benefits of external validation over internal programs. Marianne Balfe of Highgate reports positive reputation and booking rate impacts from certification. Bruce Becker's Hotel Marcel in Connecticut, a LEED Platinum-certified, 100% electric hotel, highlights certification's marketing benefits and alignment with corporate sustainability goals. Crescent Hotels & Resorts chose Green Key Global for international recognition and comprehensive sustainability focus. Noble House is committed to Green Key Global's Eco-Rating Program, also embarking on Green Seal certification. Certified properties often see operational improvements, such as Hotel Marcel's 75% energy bill reduction, saving over $300,000 annually. Third-party consultants are crucial for navigating complex certification processes. Certification ROI can surpass internal programs in reputation and business development. ????

1 min

Key Readings: Valencia Hotel Group Develops Leadership Via a Book Club

📚 Valencia Hotel Group established a book club to develop leadership skills among hotel staff post-COVID. The initiative, initially for general managers and corporate directors, now welcomes all company employees, with high participation from those aiming to improve leadership abilities. The book club enhances company engagement and team connection. Trent Freeman, VP of Operations, shares his top 10 leadership books, including titles by Horst Schulze, James C. Hunter, and Robin Sharma.

7 min

High-Level Hires: Attracting and Developing Great Leaders in a Competitive Market

🏨 Hotel operators focusing on corporate culture and growth opportunities attract top management talent, as per TPG Hotels & Resorts and Concord Hospitality. Concord's internal fill rate for leadership is 47%, with an Emerging Leaders Program that introduces about 24 candidates every 18 months to senior leaders in Raleigh. External recruitment involves proactive candidate hunting and leveraging company reputation, aiming for a 15-day post-to-hire process. Effective onboarding, including mentorship and regular check-ins, is crucial, with 86% retention linked to successful onboarding. Concord requires new managers to complete a leadership development course for ongoing growth.

1 min

5 Innovative Tech Products to Support Operations

📍 InviAir's air diffusers utilize a proprietary composite material to absorb sound and minimize ambient noise. The material's low temperature response reduces condensation by up to 95%. Product information is available at inviair.com.

3 min

Putting the Customer First

🛫 Harry Patel, director of Solvue Hospitality Group, emphasizes frequent property renovations and exceptional customer service to optimize the guest experience. His mentor, Khandu Patel, influenced his approach since funding Harry's first hotel in 2011. Patel's renovation strategy includes full upgrades every 4-5 years, exceeding most hoteliers' 7-year cycle. He acquired and renovated an Americas Best Value Inn in Georgia in 2015, transforming it into a Quality Inn. Patel added two more Georgia-based Quality Inns to his portfolio, in 2022 and 2023. Implementing features like LED strips and sensor bathroom lights, Patel's properties stand out, incorporating ideas from higher chain scales. Prioritizing guest satisfaction, he brought customer-centric practices from his Subway franchise days to the hospitality industry, ensuring that every guest comment is addressed.

4 min

Starting Off in Hospitality With an Owner Mindset

🏦 Sanjay Patel, CEO of Brahmas Management & Investment Group in Tampa, Florida, immigrated from India to the U.S. in 1996 with $10. By working up to 16 hours a day and not taking a day off for three years, he rose from night auditor to GM and owner of 11 hotels. His first hotel's revenue jumped from $250,000 to $650,000 in a year, reaching almost 95% occupancy. He now leverages franchising with 6 Choice Hotels-branded properties in his portfolio, inspiring lender confidence and empowering passionate employees to become stakeholders.

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