Innovation

📈 Hotels traditionally use room occupancy and square footage to measure profitability; however, this can be misleading. New metrics like Full Day Delegate (FDD) and delegate-based data provide a more accurate picture of revenue potential. For example, a hotel's five meeting rooms with a combined comfortable capacity for 180 delegates, available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., have a theoretical maximum of 1,800 delegate hours or 180 FDD. A practical calculation with multiple groups resulted in 52.5 FDD, a more precise occupancy rate than traditional room counting. By focusing on ADR (Average Delegate Rate) and RevPAD (Revenue Per Available Delegate), hotels can better forecast and optimize pricing. The Demand Calendar platform centralizes real-time data for improved decision-making, tracking future delegates, historical performance, profitable segments, and enabling continuous improvement in Meetings & Events management.

📅 The 8th Global Business Travel Review, published by The Advantage Travel Partnership and Travelogix, analyzed 33.7m business travel bookings from Jan 1, 2019, to Dec 31, 2024, totaling £16.5bn. In 2024, transactions increased by 15.5% over 2023, except in June, which saw a 15.48% decline. The average transaction value dropped from £429.35 in 2023 to £399.81 in 2024. Economy class bookings rose to 79.81% in H2 2024, while business class bookings decreased to 14.69%. The average trip duration also dropped by 33% to 4.62 days. Factors include economic pressures, corporate policy changes, and sustainable travel trends. Forecasts predict an 8-11% growth despite macroeconomic challenges.

📝 STAAH introduces AI-Assisted Review Response Tool on STAAH Max, facilitating efficient, consistent, and scalable guest communication management. Advantages include reduced response time, on-brand replies, and handling increased review volumes seamlessly. The tool offers AI-generated suggestions, customizable for tone and content before submission. The service extends to Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, and Google (Meta), requiring an active ReviewMinder subscription and Max Channel Manager integration. Fees apply, but users retain full message control, combining AI benefits with personalized service.

🍴 At MURTEC 2025, Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun discussed brand transformation amid challenges. Prioritizing stabilization of finances, he emphasized guest experience and hospitality to reverse a decade of traffic decline. The "Red Carpet Hospitality" initiative led to improved guest satisfaction scores. To attract Millennials and Gen Z, Red Lobster enhances ambiance and service, using the "10-4 Rule" for engagement. Technology plays a key role, with a focus on infrastructure, operational, and consumer tech. Adamolekun measures success through guest satisfaction and employee retention, aiming to make Red Lobster relevant and compelling in the evolving casual dining industry.

📢 Surveying 500 hotel employees across five countries, the PMS User Experience Report reveals that intuitive PMS design is crucial for operational efficiency, employee retention, and guest satisfaction. With labor shortages and a high turnover rate (73% annually in the U.S. and up to 20% missing workforce in Europe), a user-friendly PMS enables faster onboarding, with 85% of employees requiring two weeks or less training compared to months or years. A streamlined PMS UX minimizes errors and empowers hotel staff, as shown by TTM Hospitality's rapid onboarding and operational proficiency with Cloudbeds’ PMS.