Market Trends

📌 UK universities have generated £98 million from renting student halls to tourists over three years. In London, University College London earned £14.9 million and Brunel University £10.1 million. The University of Nottingham and St Andrews made £9.6 million and £8.3 million, respectively. Some universities, like Queen Mary, expect a 52% increase in rental income. Meanwhile, institutions like Newcastle University and the University of Leicester do not rent out to non-students during summer. The sector faces financial pressures, with a 16% drop in applications and an unsustainable reliance on international students. The National Union of Students (NUS) 2024 survey reported a third of students struggling with housing costs.

🏢 The biggest travel trade show, ITB, remains relevant for annual networking despite the shift of product research and sales online. The Shiji Group's insights highlight the importance of personalization in guest experience trends for 2025. Mid-tier hotels are outperforming luxury ones due to competitive pricing and enhanced services. Booking.com is adapting to AI, which may impact OTA searches and commoditize them as "databases" for AI search engines. Self-checkout kiosks in grocery stores are reintroducing human labor due to technological limitations. The New York Times integrates AI, particularly an internal tool named Echo, for content tasks. The beauty industry sees a significant shift online, with e-commerce accounting for 25% of the total market and expected growth of 7% in the next three years. Meta invests in humanoid robots, though hotel housekeeping robots have not been cost-effective. Human elements at trade shows are increasingly valuable for establishing trust and relationships in business.

🏖 On The Beach Group (OTB) anticipates a 23% increase in pre-tax profit, expecting £38.2 million for the year, driven by strong summer bookings predicted to grow by 17% over four months starting February 27, 2025. European city packages, especially to Amsterdam, Paris, and Krakow, enhance OTB's popularity, with the Irish market also showing robust bookings despite UK inflationary pressures.

🏖 TUI, facing slowing European demand, shifts focus to attract Chinese and American tourists with 22 new hotels in China and Southeast Asia over three years. Targets budget-conscious Europeans with affordable Eastern European vacations. Competes with easyJet, BA, and Airbnb by offering dynamic packages and shorter stays, and invests in marketing and local experiences in the UK and Germany. (Feb 27, 2025).

📈 Roland Fryer, Harvard University economist and Sigma Square co-founder, delivers the 2025 Economic Outlook for Restaurants at MURTEC on March 11, from 2:50 PM to 3:30 PM. Fryer, whose passion for economics began with debates in college at 7 AM office hours, applies economic reasoning to various fields including education and healthcare. With roots in the restaurant industry, starting at age 14 at McDonald’s, Fryer critiques outdated hiring strategies and high turnover, emphasizing the need for corporate solutions.

💰 In Atlanta, Georgia, Crowne Plaza by IHG revealed that 66% of U.S. and U.K. travelers blend business trips with leisure time, up from 53% in 2022. A YouGov survey of over 12,000 people across nine markets indicated that 72% find blended travel beneficial. Crowne Plaza plans to renovate 70% of its Americas properties and over 60% across other regions by 2026. The global blended travel market is expected to grow from $315 billion in 2022 to over $731 billion by 2032, with Crowne Plaza adding 140 properties to its 400 across 67 countries, a more than 35% increase.

🏨 The Handwritten Collection will launch in Switzerland with Hotel Meierhof Davos reopening on April 1, 2025. Established in 1890, it offers 37 rooms and the oldest restaurant in Davos, Jaron. The hotel is currently undergoing renovation, integrating modern touches while preserving historical aspects. Owned by ex-Formula 1 driver Jarno Trulli and managed by the Amapa Group, Hotel Meierhof Davos will join Handwritten Collection's portfolio of over 20 properties and 30 planned future openings.