TOP NEWS - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 101

4 min

Master of Profit: Why optimizing hotel revenue is only half of the equation

🏨 A webinar by HOTELS Magazine discussed optimizing hotel profitability with industry leaders Dana Cariss (CoralTree Hospitality), Sudharshan Chary (Otelier), and Yohannes Semere (Peregrine Hospitality). Key themes included data consolidation for informed decisions, embracing data-driven culture, labor optimization aiming for less than 3% forecast variance, boosting Total Revenue Per Available Room (TrevPAR), personalized guest experiences, and channel management to increase direct bookings by 5% year-over-year. Investing in technology and employee training for data usage is essential for efficiency and personalization.

3 min

Choice Hotels Shares Development Updates From 2024

🏗️ Choice Hotels International announced a strong year of development in 2024 across various segments. In the extended-stay segment, they opened 61 hotels, including their 500th property in October. The upscale segment saw 27 new hotels, with an 80% year-over-year increase for the Ascend Hotel Collection and a 7.5% RevPAR increase for Radisson brands. The midscale segment included 41 Quality Inn openings during its 85th anniversary, and a 19-point RevPAR Index increase for Country Inn & Suites. Additionally, 20 properties opened under the SOAR program, which supports underrepresented entrepreneurs in hotel ownership.

4 min

Spa Design Trends for 2025

🏠 Sparcstudio, a spa and wellness design studio with over 15 years of experience, forecasts 2025 trends, focusing on sustainability, longevity, privacy, social wellness, gym floor wellness experiences, and the use of color. Beverley Bayes, Creative Director, emphasizes the importance of durable, local materials, future-proofing facilities, and designing spaces for both social interaction and privacy, such as the spa garden Cabanas at Pennyhill Park and private lodges at South Lodge. The integration of fitness and spa is highlighted through stretch pods, like the Proverb pod at The Grain Store. Pantone's Color of the Year 2025, 'Mocha Mousse,' aligns with the natural and comforting spa environments Sparcstudio creates.

2 min

Brookfield acquires stake in Tokyo luxury hotel in $1.6B deal

🏢 Brookfield invested $1.6 billion in Japan's real estate, acquiring a stake in Tokyo's Gajoen complex and a land plot in Greater Nagoya. Gajoen features a luxury hotel, two office towers, and retail spaces with 1.5 million square feet. The Nagoya plot will become a 2.4 million-square-foot multi-tenant warehouse, with construction starting in 2025 and completion by 2027. Japan’s real estate attracts foreign investment due to low interest rates, tourism, and rental yields, with cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Niseko as prime locations.

8 min

Deflagging your hotel: Is going independent the right decision for you?

🏨 According to STR, 70% of US hotel rooms belong to brands or chains. Deflagging, a growing trend, allows hotels to escape royalty fees of 4-6% of gross revenue, gaining financial and operational autonomy. Independent hotels leverage local experiences, which is important as 52% of Gen Z travelers prioritize unique experiences. Deflagging can lead to reclaimed revenue, such as saving $100,000 a year on a $2 million revenue with a 5% fee, and higher profit margins by eliminating franchise fees, flexible revenue management, and creating new revenue streams. Successful deflagging involves cost-benefit analysis, technology investments, direct booking strategies, brand identity redefinition, and robust marketing efforts.

1 min

Lessons from Leading at Starwood, Google, and the Culinary Institute of America: Michiel Bakker’s Career Journey

🏠 Michiel Bakker, President and CEO of the Culinary Institute of America, shared his hospitality industry journey on Jan. 27, 2025. He discussed pivotal career moments and lessons learned, with support from the technology provider Shiji Group, known for streamlining hotel operations and enhancing guest experiences. The episode featured music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound, specializing in Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands.

4 min

The Metrics Every General Manager Should Track

📊 Starbucks shifted focus from average transaction value to customer loyalty, engagement, and lifetime value metrics. Their rewards program accounts for 40% of US sales, with members spending 2-3 times more than non-members. The article stresses the importance of general managers in hospitality tracking metrics like space utilization, daily guest spend, guest lifetime value (LTV), guest acquisition cost (GAC), net promoter score (NPS), sustainability, average length of stay (ALOS), user disengagement, staff turnover rate and cost, and employee net promoter score (eNPS) for competitive success and long-term growth.

OPIC Technologies’ Spatial Livestream Technology

🤖 LG Electronics secured a majority stake in Bear Robotics by acquiring an additional 30% on Jan. 22, following an initial $60 million investment in March 2024 for a 21% stake. LG now holds a 51% stake, integrating Bear Robotics' AI-driven service robots with LG's "CLOi Robots." Bear Robotics, founded in 2017, services markets in the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. LG will launch the AI Home Hub Q9 within the year, featuring Microsoft’s voice technology and multimodal sensing. At CES 2025, CEO William Cho hinted at expanding LG's robot focus to a "Zero-labor Home." LG's robotics software capabilities are enhanced by this acquisition, aiming for an integrated software platform across commercial, industrial, and home robots to shorten development cycles and improve user experience.

1 min

Why business travel will be smarter travel in 2025

💸 On Jan 27, 2025, business travel evolves with a focus on “traveling smarter,” integrating personalized, sustainable, and value-maximizing approaches. Trends include longer, multifaceted trips, AI-enhanced customized travel experiences, and prioritization of green travel options such as green-certified accommodations and rail over short-haul flights. For details, visit Travolution.

4 min

What Guests Really Want – and 5 Ways Hotels Can Deliver

🏨 68% of guests pay for a preferred view, while 78% prioritize room views, 75% balconies, and 76% better layouts. Upsell timing is crucial; guests are 24% more likely to accept a room upgrade and 48% more inclined for a different floor at check-in. Loyalty members, representing 83% who recently bought add-ons, expect personalized rewards. Communication preferences vary, with 51% opting for email and 40% in the US favor text messages. Offering control over stay details increases trust and likelihood of repeat bookings. Sources: Plusgrade Hospitality & Rail Study, 2024; Global Travel Segmentation Study, 2024.

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