Innovation

☕ WestCord Hotels, a Dutch chain with 15 properties, experienced a 70% increase in rooms ready by 3 PM and a 90% reduction in interdepartmental calls after integrating Mews PMS and Flexkeeping. The ROI tripled in the first year, demonstrating significant efficiency gains and enhanced guest experiences through automation. Key takeaways for hoteliers include prioritizing guest experience, supporting staff with the right tools, and leveraging data for informed decision-making.

PARIS — 12 November 2024 – Appart’City, France’s leading aparthotel operator, has partnered with IDeaS, a SAS company and world’s leading provider of hospitality revenue management software and services, to optimise revenue management…

📈 Accor's research involving 9,000 global professionals reveals that prioritizing in-person meetings could boost revenue by 36%. A staggering 85% of respondents believe face-to-face interactions will significantly enhance their revenue. Data indicates 92% find such meetings important with external clients, 85% with internal colleagues, and one in-person meeting equals three virtual ones. Business travel is driven by commercial return, with 34% traveling to close deals and 30% for events and trade shows. Sophie Hulgard, Accor’s Chief Sales Officer, emphasizes the billions added to the global economy through face-to-face meetings, highlighting their irreplaceable value in business.

📅 Accor's global study, with 9,000 professionals, reveals that face-to-face meetings could increase revenue by 36%. 85% of respondents believe prioritizing in-person interactions would significantly boost revenue, with 92% considering such meetings important with external clients, and 85% with internal colleagues. The top reasons for business travel are closing deals (34%), client and contract negotiations (31% and 30%, respectively), and attending events or trade shows (30%). In-person meetings are favored for client presentations (68%), site inspections (77%), deal closures (74%), and contract negotiations (70%). Despite digital tools' convenience, a hybrid model of digital and face-to-face meetings is emerging, with a potential immense economic impact. 💼

💻 Guest relationship technology is pivotal for frictionless experiences and lifetime loyalty. The survey of lodging technology decision-makers will unveil top initiatives for 2025, IT budget outlook, persistent challenges, ways to rethink tech ROI, and guest & staff attitudes towards technology.

🏡 North America's hospitality industry has transformed, with short-term rentals (STRs) becoming a fast-growing segment in the boutique hotel market. Driven by changing consumer preferences, technology, and platforms like Airbnb, STRs now offer unique, home-like experiences. Factors propelling STR growth include balanced average daily rates (ADRs) with hotels, personalized guest experiences, strategic locations, suitability for large groups and extended stays, and ease of booking through technology. Mews, a property management system, enhances STRs by providing an integrated booking engine, comprehensive management tools, seamless communication, contactless guest experiences, and data-driven insights to support scalability. These advancements help STRs compete by blending the authenticity of STRs with hotel-like reliability and amenities.

🏦 Barcelona, Spain, November 21, 2024 – Paradores, a renowned Spanish hotel chain, continues to bank on Shiji ReviewPro since 2016 for enhancing guest satisfaction and streamlining operations. In 2023, Paradores achieved a record revenue of €328 million and a profit of €25 million, with an NPS score of 66.2% (industry average: 36%) and an average occupancy rate of 71%. Shiji ReviewPro's ORM and GSS tools have been instrumental in these accomplishments, aligning with Paradores' strategy for digital innovation and sustainability for future growth.

📋 The article discusses the challenges and strategies for technology vendors entering the hospitality market, focusing on startups and early-stage companies. The author, former CEO of HTNG with over a decade of experience, has advised hundreds of market entrants. Key points include the complexity of the industry's structure, where technology purchases require agreement among owners, managers, and brands, with brands only buying 10-15% of hotel tech. Successful strategies involve identifying direct customers, understanding the roles of stakeholders, navigating brand integration processes, considering direct or indirect sales approaches, and having sufficient financial runway with sales cycles typically lasting 12-24 months. Practical advice includes focusing on ROI calculations, targeting independents or developers, and dealing with brand relationships and fees. Companies need to be aware of the fragmented, slow decision-making process in the hospitality industry and prepare for high selling costs.