TOP NEWS

🏡 Marriott expands its brand portfolio by acquiring Postcard Cabins and signing a franchise agreement with Trailborn, aiming to inspire travel destinations instead of just providing accommodation. Skyscanner launches an Ads Platform targeting its 110 million monthly users, especially the 51% undecided about travel plans, potentially benefiting hotels in increasing market share. A German survey reveals only 8% are influenced by Instagram or YouTube for travel tips, indicating waning trust in online influencers for travel inspiration.

📅 TrustYou, in 2024, enhanced its suite of products, including a Customer Experience Platform (CXP) and a Customer Data Platform (CDP), to meet customer needs and drive revenue growth. Operating in over 100 countries with a team of 100+ professionals, the company has integrated with 95% of customer data and review partners globally. TrustYou held a Global Team Adventure in Mamaia, Romania, fostering teamwork and creativity. Client Event Hotels grew their guest reviews by 90%, highlighting TrustYou's impactful solutions. The company is preparing for further innovation in 2025.

🏨 Premier Inn, the UK's largest hotel brand with over 850 locations, formed a strategic partnership with Shiji two years ago and completed its first connection via Shiji Distribution Solutions in June 2022. Since then, it has connected to 18 channels and was the first to use Shiji's Content Hub for over 900 properties. Introduction of a new Central Reservation System this year led to a Search Success Rate (SSR) increase of 16.23% month-over-month and a 25.91% increase from the previous average. The booking performance also soared, with a 153% year-over-year production growth and a 177% increase in bookings for the last quarter.

📋 In 2025, Revenue Managers aim to balance workloads, increase status, and adopt modern tools to focus on strategy rather than manual tasks. They seek recognition for their role in driving hotel profitability and demand access to business intelligence systems to eliminate outdated practices. The call to action urges General Managers to support these goals, recognizing the crucial contributions of Revenue Managers and investing in their empowerment for a more efficient and successful hotel operation.

🏕 A Booking.com study involving 33,000 travelers reveals 75% desire sustainable travel within the next year, prioritizing green hotels to lessen carbon footprints. VRF heat pump solutions offer higher efficiency and lower emissions compared to conventional HVAC systems, adjusting energy use based on occupancy. Hotel Marcel in New Haven, Conn., exemplifies energy innovation as the first U.S. Passive House-certified zero-emission hotel, with 165 rooms powered by 100% renewable electricity and over 1,000 solar panels.

🏖️ In 2024, global tourism is predicted to reach over 1.5 billion international arrivals with revenues exceeding $2 trillion, as per UNWTO. AI-driven sustainability is key, with 74% of travelers aiming to reduce their environmental impact. Over half invest in vacations for personal well-being, and 'bleisure' travel merges business with leisure, supported by remote work flexibility. Nearly 2 out of 3 travelers prefer live experiences. Les Roches launched a BSc in Sports Business Management and a Diploma in Cruise Line Management, gearing up for industry demands.

🏖 Traveltek has renewed its partnership with Hays Travel, the UK's largest independent travel agent, for three more years. This collaboration, lasting over 15 years, will continue to utilize Traveltek's iSell technology to boost operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The partnership furthers innovation in travel solutions, including a modernized cruise search and automated Cruise PNR development. Traveltek also supports Hays Travel's loyalty app in collaboration with Digitaltravel.io. The commitment aims at driving digital transformation well into 2025 and beyond. Jonathan Woodall-Johnston, COO of Hays Travel, emphasizes the importance of this relationship in enhancing efficiency and customer service.

🏗 Servantrip, a B2B platform, partners with Germany's Schmetterling International, benefiting 14,000 travel agents in 30 countries. This alliance provides access to 700,000+ activities across 16,500 destinations in 194 countries. The collaboration enhances cross-selling and real-time bookings for supplier partners in hard-to-reach markets. CEOs Ömer Karaca and Manuel Núñez express commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, aiming to transform travel experiences.

📝 In an interview, Danica emphasizes the true essence of guest experience in hospitality, critiquing overused industry buzzwords. She argues that a guest's experience begins the moment they arrive and that everything prior is irrelevant if the room is not up to standard. She stresses the importance of guest feedback and its impact on recommendations and online ratings on platforms like TripAdvisor or Booking.com. Danica also discusses the role of hotel technology, personalization, and AI in managing guest expectations. The conversation touches on post-COVID hotel strategies, the gap between operations and commercial functions, and the importance of culture in guest experience excellence. Companies like Belmond Hotels are highlighted for their cross-departmental focus on guest data and high Global Review Index (GRI) scores. The interview also covers the evolving landscape of guest feedback, with the rise of fraudulent reviews and changing dynamics among review platforms. Danica concludes that understanding and improving guest experience must be a collaborative effort driven by culture, with leaders open to team feedback and committed to empowering employees to enhance guest satisfaction.