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Jennifer Glatt

7 posts
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  • 10 min

University Hospitality Programs Evolve into R&D Hubs, Partner with Major Hotel Brands for Innovation and Strategy Development

🛠 Cal Poly Pomona, FIU, Howard University, and UNLV are transforming hospitality education. At FIU, partnerships like the Bacardi Center evolve into innovation hubs. Wyndham Hotels collaborates with universities on AI projects, with a recent intern saving costs by using AI for sustainability. The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation gave $25M to the University of Utah for hospitality leadership. Cal Poly Pomona fosters interdisciplinary research, notably a sensory-inclusive hospitality initiative with Texas A&M.
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  • 8 min

Sonesta Celebrates Five Years of Franchising with 1,900 Hotel Conversions Amid High-Interest Market Challenges

🏨 In 2018, Sonesta International Hotels Corporation took over 250 hotels, acquired Red Lion Hotels, and launched its franchise platform, growing to over 1,000 properties with 100,000 guestrooms. By 2026, Sonesta became the 8th largest U.S. hotel company, investing nearly a billion dollars in asset reinvestment. CoStar data shows a shift to conversions, with 1,900 hotels switching flags in 2025 due to high financing costs, while new constructions fell for 15 consecutive months.
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Plate of greens with a sauce drizzle in the foreground at a dining table, with bread and wine glasses nearby in a restaurant setting.
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  • 3 min

Indigo Road's F&B Strategy Drives 40-70% of Hotel Revenue by Prioritizing Guest Experience Over Formulaic Approaches

🍴 In 2025, CBRE research found Food & Beverage (F&B) revenue grew by 3.8% per occupied room, surpassing total hotel revenue growth. Indigo Road Hospitality Group, led by Steve Palmer, generates 40-70% of total hotel revenue through F&B. Palmer emphasizes guest experience over mere revenue strategy, focusing on hospitality and cultural integration. The company prioritizes emotional intelligence in staffing and uses guest data to enhance experiences, aiming for long-term sustainable concepts rather than following trends.
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Global RevPAR Rises 19% Since 2019, But Guest Acquisition Costs Surge 25%, Highlighting a 6% Profit Gap.

📈 Recent 2026 data from HotStats shows global RevPAR has increased by 19% since 2019, but guest acquisition costs rose by 25%, creating a 6% "integration tax." Alex Zoghlin highlights that hotels use 15-25 tech systems that don't integrate, reducing efficiency. Adam Harris notes a 67% labor shortage and 41% annual churn in hospitality. Unified RMS stacks can reclaim strategic time, reducing manual data oversight and improving profitability across operations.
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  • 2 min

Stephanie Sparks Smith Emphasizes Aligning Marketing with Planning Windows to Enhance Revenue Management in Hospitality

📈 Operators often wait for a "pace-behind" warning from Revenue Management Systems (RMS) before acting, but aligning marketing spend with a guest’s planning window (60–90 days out) rather than the RMS booking window (0–14 days out) is crucial. Stephanie Sparks Smith of Cogwheel Marketing highlights that hotels must unify goals across teams to improve total hotel revenue. Reframing marketing as a revenue generator helps optimize spend and targets underperforming segments earlier.
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Hospitality Industry Faces Margin Squeeze with Labor Costs Projected to Hit $131 Billion in 2026

🏨 In 2026, hospitality faces intensified margin pressures with labor costs projected at $131 billion. Labor expenses are 35% of revenue, challenging profitability. AHLA's report projects 2.2 million employees in 2026, with legislative changes needed to support growth. Replacing staff costs over $6,000 per person. Strategies like cross-training and technology integration aim to reduce turnover and enhance guest experiences, balancing cost with service quality in cities like Los Angeles and New York.
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  • 3 min

FORWARD/26 Conference in Atlanta Achieves Record Attendance of 1,000, Focuses on Women’s Leadership in Hospitality

📅 April 16-17, Atlanta, Georgia: The sold-out FORWARD/26, hosted by the AHLA Foundation, attracted 1,000 attendees, emphasizing women's leadership in hospitality. Katherine Lugar, Hilton's EVP, and Rosanna Maietta, AHLA Foundation's President, highlighted the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and inclusivity in advancing the industry. Lugar shared insights on intuition and learning from mistakes, underscoring travel's role in diplomacy and connection. The initiative aims to empower women to reach leadership roles, fostering a supportive industry culture.
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