Market Trends

📖 Steve launched his new book, "Hospitality Unlocked," drawing from years of podcast interviews with industry leaders. Inspired by Tim Ferriss, he compiled advice for younger professionals, distilling insights into a structured guide with quotes and actionable steps. The book categorizes 75 leaders into five sections and is designed for ongoing reference, not a one-sitting read. It’s available in multiple formats on Amazon, including paperback, hardback, and Kindle. Steve's work encapsulates the journey from humble beginnings to C-suite success, emphasizing learning from challenges and staying humble.

🌏 Lori Mukoyama, Global Hospitality Leader at Gensler, forecasts 2025 hospitality design trends on Jan. 24, 2025. Gensler's "2025 Design Forecast" provides insights for the future of the industry. The episode highlights technology's role in hospitality, with Shiji Group sponsoring, renowned for streamlining hotel operations and guest experience enhancements. Music for the show is by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound.

💬 Michael Levie, on Jan. 24, 2025, shared insights on leadership in a Hospitality Daily Podcast episode, highlighting communication and openness as key to citizenM's success. The episode is supported by Shiji Group, a global hospitality technology company. The podcast also features music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound. Resources and additional episodes with Levie are mentioned for further engagement.

🌇 IHG announces the Holiday Inn Express Generation 5 design to launch in EMEAA in 2023, targeting 500 properties in the region over the next three years. The design, developed from guest behavior research, offers experiential zones and caters to the rising demand for vibrant, dynamic spaces. Holiday Inn Express Riyadh, set to open in 2026, will debut the concept. Ten projects in the UK and Europe are early adopters, plus 20 interested parties. Generation 5 follows the 2016 ‘Next Generation’ update. Currently, there are 3,206 Holiday Inn Express hotels (340,054 rooms) with 644 properties (79,079 rooms) in the pipeline.

🏢 Anthony Torres, a top hospitality food and beverage leader, led the Grand Wailea to a $30M revenue growth over two years. Details were shared in a Hospitality Daily Podcast episode on Jan. 16, 2025. The episode was supported by Shiji Group, a global hospitality technology company. Music was produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound. More resources and episodes featuring Anthony Torres are mentioned.

🏨 San Diego-based Cloudbeds' research highlights PMS impact on hotel staff retention, revealing 38% of employees left due to PMS experience. Over half of managers (52.2%) believe at least four months are needed for staff to confidently use PMS. Moreover, 73% of staff receive manual PMS training, suggesting a need for more intuitive systems. The study surveyed 500 hotel staff across the US, UK, Canada, Mexico, and Spain, emphasizing the importance of user-friendly hotel technology for employee satisfaction and efficiency.

🏌️ The Faldo Course at Lough Erne Resort ranked 6th in Golf World’s Top 100 Parkland courses in Great Britain and Ireland. Adare Manor, which will host the 2027 Ryder Cup, was ahead at 2nd. The course features 11 water holes and nearly 50 sand traps. Barry McCauley, Golf Operations Manager, expressed pride in the achievement. In July, the course hosted the 'Champion of Champions' World Championship with 250 junior golfers from over 40 countries.

🏠 Trafalgar St. James, a 5-star lifestyle hotel in central London, reveals its luxury refurbishment's first stage with the new Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar and a redesigned lobby. The £6m renovation includes six new suites set to be unveiled in February 2025, adding to the hotel’s current 131 rooms. Rockwell offers a day-to-night experience with specialty coffee, all-day deli-style dishes, and a curated wine list. Design LSM crafted the contemporary interiors. Federico Ciampi, London Cluster General Manager, anticipates the suites elevating the hotel's status.

Munich, 8th January 2025 – Bob W, the tech-powered hospitality operator, has today announced it has signed long-term lease agreements to convert two former hotels and an aparthotel in Munich into…

🏨 Understanding the five levels of economic value: commodity, Goods, Deliver, Experience, and Transformation, helps hoteliers enhance guest satisfaction and improve revenue. Applied to the hotel industry, these levels range from offering basic accommodations at competitive prices for budget travelers to providing transformative experiences for those seeking personal growth. With each level comes a different target audience, services offered, and pricing strategy. The model suggests hotels maximize revenue within their current level rather than attempting costly repositioning.