TOP NEWS

📢 Tripadvisor and Perplexity have announced a partnership to utilize unstructured data about travel for recommendations, aiming to enhance travel planning. Meanwhile, an investigation suggests that OTAs may be implementing price discrimination, with San Francisco residents potentially paying up to $500 more for identical hotel rooms. Amazon, after generating most of their operating profits from ads, has launched Amazon Retail Ad Service to expand ad opportunities. Marketing in the travel and hospitality industries is increasingly intertwined with revenue generation, calling for a unified approach to KPIs.

📊 Minor Hotels Europe & Americas forecasts €2.4 billion in revenue for a 10% growth over the previous year. Gonzalo Aguilar, new CEO, eyes price increase opportunities despite below pre-pandemic occupancy levels. The group plans to expand by 50 new hotels by 2027, aiming for a total of 700. For 2024, they predict a 15-20% rise in recurring EBITDA, reaching €375-390 million, with room rates averaging €145/night. Negotiations are underway for 52 more hotels, adding to the 18 already contracted for 2024.

🏨 Benchmarking in hotels reveals operational standings, potential pitfalls, and improvement strategies but can trap them in the status quo. The key is to use data for innovation and avoid "copycat" strategies. An example given is Hotel Terra Vista, which discovered operational inefficiencies through benchmarking and addressed them with a unique "Concierge-to-Go" check-in and a local culinary strategy, enhancing guest satisfaction and profitability. Hoteliers should balance past insights with forward-looking strategies and translate innovation into numbers to gain stakeholder support, aiming for market leadership.

🏖️ Travel has risen in the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, and Spain over the previous year, with decisions influenced by value and price. Social media usage is increasing for trip planning and idea sourcing. The report surveys consumers in these countries who traveled in 2023 and are planning to travel in 2024. It examines European consumer behavior, technology's impact on travel planning, and future travel expectations amidst rising costs and sustainability concerns.

📌 Attribute-Based Selling (ABS) in the hotel industry allows customization of stays by selecting room features individually, gaining traction especially among larger hotel chains and boutique hotels. ABS implementation requires Cloud-based PMS like Hotelogix and Stayntouch, enhancing guest booking transparency and satisfaction. Benefits for hotels include increased revenue, conversion rates, and operational flexibility, with improvements in ADR and RevPAR. Guests enjoy personalized experiences and potential cost savings. However, challenges involve complex technology integration, inventory management, and staff training. Overselling attributes poses risks of consumer disappointment, reputation damage, and legal concerns. Ethical marketing practices are essential for balancing ABS benefits, and future trends indicate increased ABS adoption with support from AI and machine learning.

🏛 Over 200 sustainability certifications are available globally for hospitality and tourism brands, emphasizing the importance of strategic selection for hoteliers. Leveraging technology simplifies data management for certifications, which are essential for compliance with regulations like the EU's Green Claims Directive and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. Certifications such as LEED and BREEAM focus on environmental building performance, while others like Green Globe target specific operational practices. Strategic choices between standardization and local specificity are key, with digital tools like BeCause's AI platform aiding in compliance and benchmarking.

📱 G6 Hospitality, part of OYO's portfolio, partners with HotelKey to upgrade technology at its 1,500+ Motel 6 and Studio 6 properties in the US and Canada. The announcement was made in Nagpur, India, on January 11, 2025. G6 aims to open over 150 hotels in 2025. The partnership promises to optimize operations and enhance guest experiences. HotelKey maintains its role as the core Property Management System for G6, noted for its high adoption rates and positive franchisee feedback.

✈ Travelport released its "2025 State of Modern Retailing Report," signaling critical travel industry trends: transparency demand, new subscription models, and AI advancements. Nearly half (44%) of consumers cited travel companies for "consumer washing," with 45% for credit card companies. 47% see Fintech simplifying finances, but 56% find airline offers confusing. 56% also feel overwhelmed by content choices. Subscriptions gain traction, with eDreams ODIGEO's 6.5 million Prime subscribers. 35% would consider travel subscriptions in 2025. AI trust is high in travel; 42% of consumers trust travel brands with AI, and 58% use AI in their lives. Jen Catto, Travelport's CMO, emphasizes the importance of simplicity, transparency, and trust.

🏨 Honeywell, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., with its INNCOM Energy Management System, can save up to 40% on HVAC energy use. Verdant by Copeland, based in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, is present in 8,000 hotels, reducing heating and cooling run times by about 40% and cutting energy bills by 20%. Loxone from Kollerschlag, Austria, claims 70% savings on heating and cooling and 80% on lighting. Italy's Telkonet reports 37% energy savings and $300,000 annual savings for hotels, potentially increasing real estate value by 15%.