Dennis Nessler - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers

5 min

Making Strides: Women Execs Continue to Increase Their Impact Within Hospitality

👨‍💼 Elizabeth Harlow, with 4 years at Sonesta Hotels as chief brand officer, saw double-digit brand awareness growth post-acquisition of Red Lion Hotels Corporation in 2021. Sonesta's TravelPass, following the Hello Rewards integration, boasts over 7 million members. Amina Gilyard James bought a 70-room Quality Inn in Memphis for $3.85 million in 2023 and opened a 120-room Wyndham Lake Charles, leveraging Wyndham's diversity programs. Kimberly Rowell, with 30+ years in the industry, aims to make Five Star Hospitality a premier hotel owner-operator, emphasizing the need for more women and diverse leaders in high positions.

4 min

Positive Impact: Liam Brown on His Goals as AHLA Vice Chair

🏨 Liam Brown, Marriott International's Group President for U.S. and Canada, is the new AHLA Vice Chair for 2025. Brown, influenced by a mentor to pursue hotel management, transferred from University College of Dublin to study hospitality at Trinity College Dublin. He began his U.S. career in 1989 with Appleton Inns, which was soon acquired by Marriott. As AHLA Vice Chair, he plans to support the hospitality industry's growth, the guest experience, and career opportunities, while working alongside AHLA Chair Mitch Patel. His outlook for the lodging industry in 2025 is cautiously optimistic with expected steady growth.

5 min

ESLA’s Inaugural Event Does Deep Dive Into Extended-Stay Segment

📌 At the Extended Stay Lodging Association (ESLA) event in Atlanta, hotel executives discussed the growth of the extended-stay segment, highlighting operating margins up to 65%. David Wilner of Wyndham emphasized brand commitment, while Robert Scribner of Choice Hotels and Frank McFadden of Hilton focused on market demands and pricing sensitivity. Ron Stewart of Marriott and Jason Ballard of Hyatt stressed brand selection based on loyalty programs and market presence. Challenges discussed included municipal restrictions and the need for industry education. Arturo Jimenez of Ark Hospitality and Doug Artusio of ESLA and Dellisart Hospitality offered operational advice, underscoring continuous improvement and the profitability of the economy extended-stay model.

3 min

Building the Right Culture Takes Center Stage at ALIS

📈 At the ALIS conference, Sloan Dean, CEO of Remington Hospitality, emphasized employee experience and dedicated training for all positions, with a 7-year tenure. Red Roof's president Zack Gharib, there for roughly a year, highlighted culture elevation and core values (hospitality, adaptability, belonging, impact, trust, and success), while John Cohlan, CEO of Margaritaville, stressed the brand's unique culture. Jim Merkel, CEO of Rockbridge, mentioned a rebranding focused on purpose and career opportunities.

3 min

C-Level Execs Express Optimism During ALIS Despite Economic Headwinds

🏖️ C-level executives at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles expressed optimism for the travel industry in interviews and panels, anticipating strong travel demand. Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano highlighted sustained interest in travel and experiences across demographics. U.S. Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman emphasized the industry must address obstacles due to high demand. AHLA President Rosanna Maietta highlighted the ease of travel and booking, while IHG CEO Jolyon Bulley cited strong airline indicators for future confidence. A recent Jones Lang LaSalle report suggests deal volume could increase by 15 to 25 percent this year, with expectations for a rise in transactions. CEOs, including Wyndham's Geoff Ballotti and Hilton's Chris Nassetta, anticipate an active transactions market. Capuano identified the availability of construction debt and labor market concerns as industry challenges for 2025.

3 min

Hotels Provide Refuge for Displaced Los Angeles Residents in Wake of Wildfires

🔥 In Southern California, four wildfires have led to at least 24 deaths and forced over 100,000 Los Angeles County residents to evacuate, with an additional 87,000 under warning. Approximately 60 square miles have burned. The Hotel Association of Los Angeles lists 60+ hotels offering Wildfire Relief Accommodations with discounted rates. Hilton and Wyndham amended reservation policies due to the fires, waiving fees for stays until January 13. California's price gouging law restricts excessive pricing post-emergencies. The ALIS conference in downtown Los Angeles from January 28-30 remains scheduled despite the fires.

2 min

Progress on the Labor Front: Creating an Environment that Retains ‘the Right People’

📌 Sloan Dean, CEO of Remington Hospitality, remarks on eased staffing challenges with wage growth cooling from 8% to 4% and turnover among hourly employees in housekeeping and food & beverage at 100%. Liv Wang from ADP Research highlights leisure & hospitality leading wage growth from 2021 to early this year, now returning to normal. Dean emphasizes hiring the right people, leveraging technology, and fostering a high culture environment to attract passionate individuals and improve efficiency, including the use of AI in HR and legal.

4 min

Staffing for Great Service: Training, Technology Drive Better Performance for F&B Associates

🍴 Steve Palmer, president of Indigo Road Hospitality, oversees 45 restaurants and 6 hotels, emphasizing robust training programs, especially post-pandemic, to onboard employees with less experience but the right attitude. Sean Kreiman, SVP of CHMWarnick, stresses hiring passionate staff and leveraging training tools, including Proph+IT, CHMWarnick's business intelligence platform with labor tools, offered at a reasonable price to owners and operators. Indigo Road provides a home loan program, pays for continuing education, and offers free mental health care to support and attract associates. They also conduct a Hospitality University for advanced learning in Charleston. Creating a positive culture has been key to attracting potential employees.

5 min

Atypical Approach: CEO Murray Sets Up Sonesta for Growth With Unique Franchising Formula

🏨 Sonesta International Hotels Corporation, under CEO John Murray since April 2022, executed 30 franchise agreements in Q3 2024. The Newton, Massachusetts-based company, established in 1937, now boasts nearly 1,100 hotels across 13 brands. Sonesta began franchising in 2021 and plans long-term franchise agreements for 114 hotels post-2025. The company has seen franchise growth double in 2024 compared to 2023, with a pipeline including over 60 hotels. Sonesta recently launched Sonesta Essential Hotels in January 2023, growing to over 20 properties. The MOD Collection by Sonesta opened its first U.S. location in Houston with 120 rooms, while the loyalty program Sonesta TravelPass has nearly seven million members post-relaunch in 2024.

3 min

LODGING Exclusive: Inaugural ESLA Event Reveals Long Runway for Growth for Extended-Stay Segment

📌 The inaugural ESLA workshop in Atlanta, Georgia disclosed that the extended-stay hotel segment, representing 10.5% of total U.S. hotel rooms, generated $18.7 billion in 2023, with growth to an estimated $20 billion in 2024. Revenue had plummeted to $9.9 billion in 2020 due to the pandemic but fully recovered by 2021. Kalibri Labs forecasts a 1% RevPAR growth in 2024 and 2.5% in 2025, driven by ADR gains. Occupancy rates in Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, and Savannah exceed 2019 levels, while other top markets in the region lag. Noble Investment Group applies a unique revenue model for extended-stay properties, forecasting based on different stay durations.

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