Hotel Operations

🏨 In the week of June 23-29, 2024, the U.S. hotel industry saw occupancy rise to 71.9% (3.2% increase), ADR to $162.81 (3.6% increase), and RevPAR to $117.13 (6.9% increase) compared to 2023. Minneapolis led with occupancy up 20.1% to 74.8%, ADR up 15.7% to $150.42, and RevPAR up 39.0% to $112.46, boosted by the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials and Twin Cities Pride Parade. Meanwhile, New Orleans faced a RevPAR drop of 30.6% to $82.54.

🖤 The Social Hub Amsterdam introduces 'next-generation' room design for bookings starting 20 July, featuring hybrid utility space, king-size bed, rain shower, double sink with Zenology toiletries, and sustainable bathroom tissue by The Good Roll. The year-long design process involved surveys, focus groups, and consulting with design experts Rizoma Architetture, DUM Office, ByBorre, and Kvadrat. The rollout aims to elevate the brand to a higher competitive category.

📱 Simone Puorto interviewed Natalie Kimball, VP of Strategic Accounts at Shiji Distribution Solutions, during HITEC 2024 in Charlotte. Kimball highlighted Shiji's transition from concept pitches to launching live products within a year, aiming to ease labor shortages in hospitality by streamlining hotel content distribution. The Content Hub, developed over five years, centralizes data to ensure accuracy and efficiency. Shiji, having acquired Ice Portal, now offers a comprehensive platform for hotel content management, continually evolving based on customer feedback.

🏨 U.S. hotels added 700 jobs in June, yet industry employment is still 196,000 less than pre-pandemic levels at nearly 1.92 million. Average hotel wages rose 26% since the pandemic, outpacing the general economy's increase of 22.2%. With 8.1 million job openings in the U.S. as of May and only 6.6 million unemployed, AHLA seeks to address workforce shortages by advocating for increased H-2B visas and supportive legislation like the Closing the Workforce Gap Act of 2024, the HIRE Act, and the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act.

🏡 The BWH Hotels' "Life's a Trip" campaign, led by SVP and CMO Joelle Park, features a cover of The Band's 1968 hit "The Weight" by Canadian folk singer Abigail Lapell. Best Western, part of the 18-brand BWH portfolio, is the focal point of the campaign, which emphasizes authentic experiences over a broad brand showcase. Emotive storytelling and regional relevance are key strategies, with targeted marketing across various platforms including Food Network, Discovery Channel, streaming services, and social media. Focus group studies showed 84% brand recall, indicating the effectiveness of the campaign's emotional and cinematic approach.

🍴 Located at Henrietta Experimental hotel in London’s Covent Garden, the Parisian-inspired restaurant Henri is a collaboration between Experimental Group and chef Jackson Boxer. Opening follows Cowley Manor Experimental's success. Menu features Parisian bistro cooking with snacks and entrees starting at £4 and larger dishes from £15 to £30. Cocktails named after French icons and a French-focused wine list. Interior combines Art Nouveau and British pub elements, paying homage to the historic market. Henri contributes to London's trend of rustic, accessible French bistros.

📖 Chef Paul Ainsworth, after his dessert featured on the Great British Menu banquet in 2011, is releasing his first cookbook "For the Love of Food," reflecting his culinary journey and his move to Cornwall. Ainsworth, proud of the diverse offerings at his three eateries—The Mariners Public House, Caffè Rojano, and the Michelin-starred Paul Ainsworth at No6—aims to showcase this diversity in his book. Despite economic challenges, Ainsworth's establishments are thriving, focusing on both fine dining and casual culinary experiences. "For the Love of Food" is published by Pavilion Books with an RRP of £26.

📖 Chef Paul Ainsworth released his first cookbook "For the Love of Food" after his "A Taste of The Fairground" dessert featured on the "Great British Menu" banquet in 2011. The book reflects his culinary journey and includes recipes from his career, inspired by his move to Cornwall. Ainsworth owns three different eateries: The Mariners Public House, the Italian Mediterranean Caffè Rojano, and the Michelin-starred flagship Paul Ainsworth at No6. Despite the challenging financial climate, his businesses are thriving in Cornwall. "For the Love of Food" is published by Pavilion Books with a retail price of £26.

🍝 Chef Director Ben Tish releases his fifth cookbook, "Mediterra," covering the entire Mediterranean basin. The book highlights regional cuisine from Spain, France, Slovenia, Croatia, and more, aimed at home cooks. It includes unique twists on classics and lesser-known dishes like Croatian fritules and Palestinian knafeh. "Mediterra" spans 304 pages, with must-try recipes like Baked crab with Oloroso and marjoram, published by Bloomsbury for £26.

🍝 Chef Ben Tish releases his fifth cookbook, "Mediterra," offering a comprehensive guide to the Mediterranean basin's cuisine. The book, retailing at £26 by publisher Bloomsbury, spans 304 pages and is divided into Northern Shores, Eastern Shores, Southern Shores, and Islands, with recipes from less known dishes like Croatian fritules to twists on classics like gnocchi with bottarga. Notably, Tish directs the kitchen of Cubitt House and has a history with Norma, Salt Yard Group, and Al Duca. Recommended: Baked crab with Oloroso and marjoram.