David Eisen - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 6

6 min

The president of Donohoe Hospitality has had a remarkable career. One forged from tragedy.

🚢 Thomas Penny, president of Donohoe Hospitality, named his boat "Brother’s Keeper" in Annapolis, MD. He started his career at 17 as a dishwasher making $4.25/hour and became the food and beverage director at 18. Penny joined Donohoe in Bethesda, MD, at 21 and became its president in 2017. The company manages 16 hotels, primarily in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area, and is expanding in Las Vegas with a dual-brand Hyatt partnership. In Reston, VA, Donohoe opened a dual-branded AC Hotel and Residence Inn, part of a 4.8-million-square-foot project. D.C. average daily rates have exceeded $200 in March 2025. Penny carries on his great grandfather's legacy, who worked on the Twin Bridges Marriott, opened in 1957. Donohoe is committed to diversity, with inclusive senior leadership representing various backgrounds.

4 min

To your health: Hilton’s wellness leader on what travelers are looking for on vacation and why health is top of mind

🏠 Hilton's "2025 Trends Report" signals an increase in travelers seeking wellness on vacation. Jessica Shea, VP of wellness at Hilton, emphasizes the economic opportunity and responsibility to cater to health-conscious guests. Hilton works with sleep expert Dr. Rebecca Robbins to optimize guest sleep experiences and introduces stress-reducing hotel features. Fitness centers are standard across all Hilton brands, with luxury properties offering advanced amenities. Wellness offerings at Hilton are revenue drivers, impacting rates and driving demand, especially in lifestyle and luxury segments. Hilton has retail partnerships with wellness brands like Lululemon and Alo, and collaborations with Peloton and Calm. Wellness initiatives are being integrated with the Hilton Honors program.

In the luxury hotel space, being unique means being singular throughout

🍷 Distinguishing lifestyle and luxury hotels includes prioritizing F&B. A recent LinkedIn post about additive-free tequila brands like G4, Wild Common, and Tapatio highlighted the issue with hotels stocking common spirits. The argument suggests hotels should offer authentic, unique spirits with taste and story, despite financial barriers from distributor influence and profitability challenges in hotel F&B. Innovative solutions include signature menus with local and small-brand spirits, and staff training to educate guests on unique beverage options.

1 min

HOTELS Magazine May/June digital edition is live

📱 HOTELS Magazine's May/June digital edition explores lodging loyalty programs, provides insights from AAHOA and Hunter hospitality conferences, and highlights a new Waldorf Astoria development in Texas. It also features Sean Hehir, CEO of Trinity Investments, discusses wellness trends led by Hilton, and showcases six influential PMS providers in hotel tech. Additionally, the resurgence of banqueting in the F&B sector is covered. Read the latest trends and developments in the hospitality industry now.

4 min

January and February performance for Marriott was strong. Then came March.

🏨 Marriott International reported Q1 2025 earnings, with a March slump leading to a lower full-year RevPAR growth forecast by 50 basis points. US government travel decreased, causing a 10% YoY decline in US government RevPAR. Global RevPAR is expected to rise 1.5% to 2.5% in Q2 and 1.5% to 3.5% for the full year. Despite this, Q1 2025 RevPAR increased by 4.1%, with 3.3% growth in the US & Canada and 5.9% internationally. Marriott added 12,200 net rooms in Q1, a 4.6% growth from Q1 2024, and has a pipeline of 3,800 properties and over 587,000 rooms, up 7.4% YoY. The company acquired citizenM for $355 million, contributing to a 5% net room growth target. Cost-cutting measures are set to save $80-90 million annually from 2025, with Q1 G&A costs down 6% YoY. Marriott Bonvoy membership reached nearly 237 million by March end.

Hotel Equities and Springboard Hospitality merge

🏨 Hotel Equities and Springboard Hospitality merged effective May 1, with Ben Rafter as CEO and Brad Rahinsky as chairman. The combined entity operates over 250 hotels across the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and Latin America. Hotel Equities manages nearly 200 hotels, while Springboard Hospitality oversees 51 properties. The merger aims for revenue generation, technology innovation, and providing long-term value. Al Smith becomes COO; Rob Robinson is now president of Springboard Hospitality. Terms were not disclosed.

Hyatt moderates RevPAR outlook as it races to get Playa deal over the finish line

🏨 Hyatt Hotels is set to complete a $2-billion purchase of Playa Hotels & Resorts. In Q1, Hyatt's RevPAR grew by 5.7% year-over-year but CFO Joan Bottarini noted slowing bookings, predicting full-year RevPAR growth of 1-3%. CEO Mark Hoplamazian reported softer U.S. booking trends, with high single-digit declines, but stronger international RevPAR expectations. Hyatt's luxury segment is strong, but upscale and select services see less business travel. Roughly 50% of 2026's bookings are pacing over 10% ahead, with healthy rate increases. U.S. GDP fell by 0.3% in Q1 2025, the first decline since Q1 2022. Hyatt's acquisition of all Playa shares for $2.6 billion, including $900 million net debt, is underway, with the tender offer extended to May 23, 2025. The company is selling real estate, including Hyatt Grand Central New York and Andaz London, as part of an asset-light strategy. Hyatt's Q1 room pipeline increased by 7%, reaching approximately 138,000 rooms, and net-rooms growth hit 10.5%. Hyatt's loyalty program reached 56 million members, up 22% from the previous year.

3 min

Retailer Anthropologie and Philadelphia’s Hotel Anna & Bel get suite on each other

🏠 Anthropologie collaborates with Hotel Anna & Bell to launch a suite in Philadelphia's Fishtown. The 950-square-foot Anna Suite boasts two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 360-degree views. It features Anthropologie's furniture and decor, fully shoppable via QR code. The boutique hotel, opened by Foyer Project in August 2024, is the first full-service property in Fishtown, built on historic grounds. The suite's design includes vintage-inspired elements and is the sole room on the fourth floor, with private staircase access.

4 min

The CEO of Wyndham Hotels conjured grim events of the past to explain why he’s not afraid of the future

📌 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' CEO Geoff Ballotti referenced past crises to illustrate the company's resilience during their Q1 earnings call. Despite a 2% to 1% downward RevPAR guidance for 2025, Wyndham's global RevPAR grew 2% in Q1, though it fell 8% in China. The company is less affected by international travel, with less than 3% of U.S. bookings from abroad. Wyndham's domestic focus is on driving markets, with 90% of their footprint and consistent booking patterns. Adjusted EBITDA rose 9%, the global system expanded by 4%, and the hotel pipeline increased by 5% to 2,143 hotels. New construction is normalizing, now representing nearly a third of openings. Ballotti highlighted domestic sourcing to mitigate tariff impacts and the relevance of infrastructure projects to their business.

As Hilton guides down, its CEO remains reassured

🏨 Hilton President & CEO Chris Nassetta highlighted Q1 results with a 2.5% RevPAR increase year-over-year but forecasted a full-year RevPAR between flat to 2% growth. Hilton opened 186 hotels, adding over 20,000 rooms in the quarter, marking a 20% annual increase and 7.2% net unit growth. Approximately 40% of new openings were conversions, half located internationally. The luxury segment contributed 30% to openings, including the 252-room Waldorf Astoria Osaka. The development pipeline featured 503,000 rooms, a 7% rise, with over 32,000 approved in Q1, up 10% year-over-year. Hilton anticipates a 6%-7% net unit growth in 2025 and plans to expand from 24 to 27 brands.

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