Robin McLaughlin - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 2

4 min

Extended Stay America’s Client Connect Program Streamlines Business Travel Operations

💻 Extended Stay America (ESA) launched Client Connect to enhance long-term stays for business travelers. Available immediately, it offers dedicated account management and streamlines existing services under one platform. With over 30 years of expertise, ESA targets construction crews, traveling nurses, and military personnel. Client Connect provides flexible booking, affordable rates, billing simplification, and nationwide amenities across 700 properties. ESA commits to evolving the program, driven by client feedback and changing business travel needs.

9 min

More Than a Motto: Red Roof President Zack Gharib Delivers on ‘Genuine Relationships, Real Results’

🏨 Red Roof is expanding with 50 hotel openings and 65 agreements in 2025, focusing on their four brands and a dual-brand option. The company emphasizes core values through its "HABITS" framework—hospitality, adaptability, belonging, impact, trust, and success—and aims for a 92% franchisee satisfaction. Initiatives like RIDE with Red Roof and SHE programs have increased women franchisees by over 30 since June 2023, promoting inclusivity. Tech partnerships with HotelIQ, FreedomPay, Sojern, and ibex enhance operations and guest experiences.

4 min

Three Common and Costly PTAC Disposal Mistakes and a Smarter Solution

💰 Hotels replace 7-15% of PTAC units annually, often disposing of them improperly and illegally, impacting the environment. RoomOne Solutions offers a free nationwide PTAC pick-up and recycling service, requiring hotels to place at least six units on a pallet. The company partners with major hotel brands like Wyndham, BWH, Choice Hotels, and IHG, supporting sustainability goals by recycling or reselling usable components and materials. This service aids operational efficiency and enhances hotels' eco-friendly reputation.

4 min

LODGING Exclusive: HVMG’s HVAnalytics Powers Smarter Hotel Performance

📊 Cory Chambers from HVMG reveals that HVAnalytics, a BI platform, was formalized two years ago to handle operational data from over 30 sources. It offers real-time insights into hotel efficiency by integrating data on revenue, labor, and guest satisfaction. Five years ago, HVMG started data warehousing to streamline multi-property portfolios. The platform's features include dashboards, KPI alerts, and predictive forecasting. Future updates aim to simplify the tool while enhancing functionality, emphasizing the importance of AI and minimal human error.

2 min

ForWard Conference Focuses on Individual and Collective Power for Women in Hospitality

📈 Nearly 1,000 hospitality professionals gathered in Atlanta for the AHLA Foundation's ForWard Conference in May 2025. This sixth annual event, previously held in Chicago, emphasized the power of diverse leadership and women's roles in hospitality. Notable speakers included Jennifer Hyman and Nicole Lynn. The conference featured networking and mentorship opportunities, with 92% of attendees rating it as excellent or very good. The AHLA Foundation aims to foster workforce development and advocacy.

7 min

Inside the Merger Boom: What’s Fueling the Consolidation of Hotel Management Companies

🏨 Key hospitality industry mergers in 2024 included PM Hotel Group merging with Sightline Hospitality in November and Stonebridge Companies acquiring Real Hospitality Group in May. The PM Hotel Group now extends across the US including Hawaii, tapping into markets like Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, and Sonoma Valley. Other 2024 consolidations involved Scarlett Hotel Group with Everwood Hospitality Partners in January, and Nautic Partners with Davidson Hospitality Group, also in November. Mergers aim to enhance operational efficiency and market presence in a post-COVID era, focusing on personalized guest experiences and leveraging technology, such as AI, for future growth. Hospitality management companies emphasize maintaining a strong company culture and employee satisfaction during transitions.

3 min

Choice Hotels Pilots Breakfast Offerings for Comfort and Country Inn & Suites

🏡 Choice Hotels International’s 69th Annual Convention is taking place at Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, focusing on enhancing Comfort and Country Inn & Suites brands. The upgrades include improved breakfast options, driven by consumer research emphasizing the importance of breakfast in guest experience. A build-your-own breakfast option is piloted for Comfort, catering to dietary restrictions. Country Inn & Suites introduces breakfast sandwiches with Pillsbury biscuits. Prototype enhancements announced in March reduce Comfort hotels' footprint by 1% and add 18 rooms to Country Inn & Suites hotels. Comfort boasts 2,100 hotels with 140 in the pipeline and a 96% brand awareness rate. Country Inn & Suites, acquired in 2022, has 430 hotels, signaling growth opportunities.

4 min

Shaping What’s Next: Hospitality Executives Tackle Industry Challenges at AAHOACON25

🏨 AAHOACON25 was held at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, where hospitality industry challenges such as profitability, development, and economic shifts were discussed. Jagruti Panwala led the panel, highlighting issues like labor shortages and high construction costs. Marriott's Liam Brown and Wyndham's Geoff Ballotti spoke of industry resilience, while Extended Stay America's Greg Juceam noted the extended stay segment's occupancy 10 points higher than the U.S. hotel industry average. Sonesta's Keith Pierce, Red Roof's Zach Gharib, Hilton's Danny Hughes, BWH Hotels' Larry Cuculic, and Hyatt's Dan Hansen addressed uncertainty, advocacy, and tariffs' effect on decisions. G6 Hospitality's Ritesh Agarwal saw uncertainty as an investment opportunity. The event concluded with advice for future hoteliers to embrace their work passionately and take risks.

3 min

Working Smarter: Leaders Discuss the Legacy of Hotel Ownership at AAHOACON25

🏨 AAHOACON25 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center discussed the legacy of first-generation hoteliers and the growth with second-generation hoteliers in the US. AAHOA Vice Chair Kamalesh Patel and panelists highlighted succession planning, the risks first-generation hoteliers took, and preparing for third-generation hoteliers' new direction in the industry. Emphasis was placed on the importance of passion and adaptability for future success, including diversification into short-term rentals, glamping, and cruises.

3 min

Canal House of Georgetown Houses Marriott’s One Millionth U.S. Hotel Room

🏦 Canal House of Georgetown celebrated as Marriott International's one millionth room in the U.S. on April 8, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Developed by Douglas Development and managed by TPG Hotels & Resorts, the property includes a 107-room hotel with diverse room geometries and a signature restaurant, the C&O Lounge. Design elements throughout the hotel pay tribute to Washington, D.C., with roses and deep green hues, while the C&O Lounge menu features local flavors and ingredients.

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