HOTELSMag.com - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 28

3 min

AI transforming hospitality: Hoteliers predict major industry impact

🏨 In the hospitality industry, 73% of hoteliers believe AI will significantly impact their field. A study by Canary Technologies indicates 61% see AI shaping the industry now or within the next year, yet 40% think it will take longer. Investment is strong, with 77% of hoteliers planning to allocate 5-50% of IT budgets to AI tools in the upcoming year. Larger hotels are more committed, with properties over 500 rooms dedicating over 50% of their IT budget to AI. AI's potential lies in automated guest responses, revenue boosts, front desk relief, and 24/7 multilingual support. Luxury hotels, particularly optimistic, with 67% investing more than 10% of their budget in AI. The survey included over 325 North American, APAC, and European professionals from various sectors, including IT, sales, marketing, and operations.

2 min

Summit Mexicano de la Hospitalidad

🏨 Key speakers Braulio Arsuaga, Rocco Bova, Adolfo Tuñon, Enrique Calderón, and others converge to discuss sustainability, secrets of top hotels, human leadership, and hotel digitalization at a conference. Networking breaks at 10:15 AM and 4:30 PM, with panels throughout the day addressing recruitment, wellness, leadership for new generations, and marketing technology. The event ends with a closing ceremony at 6:30 PM, followed by a cocktail at 7:00 PM.

4 min

People on the Move: Driftwood, Frenchman’s Reef, Preferred Travel Group, Pendry Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Granada

💸 Driftwood Hospitality Management (DHM) promoted Bryan Postema to COO, Michael Buddemeyer to VP of operations focus service, and Michael Diaz to chief strategy officer; Frenchman's Reef appointed Martin Smith as managing director, Andrew Haas as VP of commercial services, and Maria Vilchez as general manager; Preferred Travel Group promoted Stephanie Calhoun, Christopher Ahlgrim, Renee Haddad, and Priscilla Haryadi to various VP and director positions; Katherine “Kati” Gregory joined Pendry Hotels as director of sales and marketing; Hotel Granada hired Lucits Dean as director of sales; The Chatwal, New York appointed Sebastian Gurevich as hotel manager; Sunriver Resort named Krista Miller VP of real estate and development and Megan Roe as general manager of Caldera Springs.

3 min

AHLA names Rosanna Maietta as president, CEO

📆 Rosanna Maietta appointed as President and CEO of American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), effective November 14. Previously, she led the AHLA Foundation and served as EVP of communications and public relations at AHLA. Maietta built relationships with key AHLA stakeholder groups. She returns after a successful tenure at the American Clean Power Association, where she expanded her team and event revenue. Kevin Carey, interim AHLA president since March 5, will continue as COO and Senior EVP. AHLA's executive committee and board unanimously approved Maietta's appointment after a comprehensive search led by AHLA Search Committee.

2 min

The Surrey Hotel reopens on New York’s Upper East Side

🏦 The Surrey in Manhattan's Upper East Side, now The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel, has reopened under U.K. billionaire owners Reuben Brothers. Acquired in 2020 for $150 million, the hotel offers 70 rooms, 30 suites, and 14 private residences. Serving as Corinthia Hotels' first North American property, The Surrey has been a New York fixture since 1926. The hotel features interior design by MBDS, suites with dedicated butler services, and the first New York Casa Tua eatery with a private members' club.

2 min

Luxury division, Paris Olympics help Accor post strong Q3 performance

💰 Accor's Q3 2024 revenue increased by 12% to €1,434 million with RevPAR growth normalizing. Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin highlighted the role of luxury and lifestyle brands, high-potential markets, and the French Olympic Games in their growth. 47 new hotels with 8,000 rooms opened, marking a 3.2% net unit growth over 12 months; total portfolio reaching 838,826 rooms (5,638 hotels). Future projections include RevPAR growth of 4%-5%, net unit growth of 3%-4%, and an expected EBITDA of €1,100 million to €1,125 million. PM&E division revenue was €821 million, a 7% increase from Q3 2023, while luxury and lifestyle division revenue jumped 18% to €635 million. France's RevPAR rose 6%, Middle East and Africa's represented 20%, and Americas', mainly Brazil, saw an uptick from business demand.

2 min

Briefs: Faena residences on Miami’s riverfront; Hilton expands in India

🏠 Faena is expanding with the Faena District Miami River, featuring two towers designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, offering 440 homes within a 14-acre park and 45,000 sq. ft. of cultural space. Hilton is opening the 118-room Hilton Udaipur in early 2026, aiming to triple its South Asian presence to 75 properties. Berkadia refinanced two Carlsbad hotels for $92.5 million with a 65% LTV. Mandarin Oriental Residences will bring 228 luxury homes to Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, near cultural landmarks, with sales starting later in the year.

2 min

Choice Hotels celebrates 500th extended stay hotel opening

🏨 Choice Hotels International celebrated the opening of its 500th extended stay hotel, Everhome Suites, in Glendale, Arizona—a region experiencing high growth. This Everhome Suites offers 122 rooms with amenities like fully equipped kitchens, spa-style bathrooms, and a fitness center. Choice boasts the fastest-growing economy extended stay portfolio, with over 350 hotels planned, and leads the new-build category according to STR’s August Pipeline Data. President and CEO Patrick Pacious highlights the milestone as evidence of Choice's industry expertise. The company currently operates six Everhome Suites in the US with over 65 in the pipeline, planning to open more than 15 in the next year. Choice opened 13 MainStay Suites and Suburban Studios in key markets such as Las Vegas and Orlando between January 1 and September. Their total portfolio includes approximately 7,500 hotels with 630,000 rooms across 45 countries.

5 min

For Hilton, slowing RevPAR doesn’t mean a reduction in performance

🏨 Hilton's global RevPAR increased by 1.4% in Q3 compared to the previous year. Chris Nassetta, CEO, remains optimistic about growth despite a challenging environment for new hotel construction. In Q3, 60% of Hilton's openings were conversions, with 20 Spark brand openings in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, and planned expansions to Germany and Austria. Hilton's net unit growth reached a record 7.8% as of September 30, 2023, with 36,600 rooms added. Construction starts rose by 21%, and Hilton leads with over 20% of the industry's rooms under construction. Group RevPAR increased more than 5% year over year, with a full-year group position up 10%. Hilton's 2025 EBITDA target is $3.69 billion with RevPAR growth of 1-2%. Around 55% of Hilton's pipeline is outside the U.S., and despite China's economic concerns, Nassetta is positive about the country's performance.

2 min

Briefs: Under Canvas steps into Pacific Northwest; Sonesta’s milestone opening

🏖 Under Canvas is set to open its 13th location, Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge, in Washington's White Salmon River Valley in May 2025. Sonesta International Hotels Corp. celebrates its 100th franchise with Sonesta Essential Beaumont in Texas. Marcus & Millichap sold an 11-hotel portfolio for $101 million across Illinois, Ohio, Alabama, Arkansas, Virginia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma. Canada's hotel occupancy fell to 74% with an Average Daily Rate (ADR) of CA$227.99 and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) of CA$168.69 in September.

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