TOP NEWS - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 119

Pyramid Global Hospitality Expands With Axiom Hospitality Merger

📌 USA, Boston, Massachusetts—Pyramid Global Hospitality announces a strategic merger with Axiom Hospitality, effective December 23, 2024. The merger creates a leading hotel and resort management company in the UK and Continental Europe, adding over 30 properties, managing 48+ hotels and 8,000+ keys. Post-merger integration expects completion by early 2025, with leadership by Axiom's Jamie Lamb and Alex Pritchard. The merger aims to enhance operational excellence and expand services for hotel sector investors.

1 min

Listening to Win: How Guest Feedback Built an Award-Winning Hospitality Brand – Nathan St Cyr, Howzit Hostels

🏩 Nathan St Cyr, co-founder of Howzit Hostels, shared his journey and strategies on December 22, 2024. He detailed transitioning from hospitality sales to establishing an award-winning hostel by focusing on guest connections and rethinking traditional hospitality models. Key strategies include listening to guest feedback, creating community spaces, integrating into Maui's local scene, and enforcing travel proof and stay limits. Howzit Hostels aims for responsible scaling while catering to Gen Z and solo female travelers' evolving preferences.

1 min

An Early Look at People, Tech, and Hotel Profitability Trends for 2025 – David Arraya

🏨 David Arraya, founder of Conscious Hospitality Unlimited and host of the Conscious Hospitality Podcast, explores hotel industry trends for 2025. Insights from the State of the Hotel Industry Survey highlight challenges in revenue and profitability, staff support, and the excitement of guest experience innovation. The episode, aired on Dec. 21, 2024, also discusses the impact of AI technologies and the importance of employee training.

17 min

Billion-Dollar Boutique Blockbuster: The Story Behind Lark Hotels’ Joint Venture with Life House – Rob Blood

🏨 Life House and Lark, previously competitors with independent properties, began talks of a merger six months ago, led by the new CEO and CFO of Life House, Chris and Mark. The merger aims to create a platform greater than the sum of its parts, with the motto "1 plus 1 equals something greater than 2". Pre-merger, Lark supported over 50 properties; post-merger, an additional 40 hotels will join their portfolio. The combined company now has around a billion in assets under management, with properties in 27 states and two countries, and a centralized service team of about 90 people. They leverage technology for efficiency, notably using Mews as their property management system. Their loyalty program, "On the Lark Club", with approximately 100,000 members, contributes to 30-33% of their revenue. The joint venture places emphasis on brand value, direct loyalty revenue, and stakeholder satisfaction.

4 min

The 2025 Travel Trends Hoteliers Need to Know Now

🪶 In 2025, hoteliers should expect major trends: a rise in eco-friendly travel with guests prioritizing sustainability, the need for technology integration like AI-powered booking systems, contactless check-ins, and smart rooms, and the growing influence of Millennials and Gen Z preferring experiences over possessions. Bleisure travel is increasing due to remote work flexibility, health and wellness tourism is gaining momentum post-pandemic, and direct bookings are becoming more critical. Hoteliers are advised to adopt green initiatives, invest in technology, cater to younger demographics' values, offer work-friendly amenities, and promote wellness. RevOptimum supports hotels in adapting to these changes.

4 min

Waldorf Astoria New York is back, staffed and ready to go—and it’s thanks to this man.

🏃 Luigi Romaniello completed his first marathon, the 2024 New York City marathon. After a hiring tour across top universities like Cornell and Boston University, Romaniello, managing director of the Waldorf Astoria New York, and Steven Snyder, the hotel's director of talent and culture, sought hospitality staff for the hotel's reopening in spring 2025. The iconic Waldorf Astoria, first opened in 1931 and now under renovation since 2017, will reopen with 375 rooms and 375 private residences, post the renovation led by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and Pierre Yves-Rochon.

2 min

Understanding the Impact of Federal Holidays on U.S. Hotel Revenue

🏨 U.S. federal holidays significantly influence hotel revenue, with distinct patterns. Major floating holidays like Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve typically result in a net negative impact on revenue, lessened by 10–20% if occurring near weekends. Winter Monday holidays (MLK Jr. Day, Presidents Day) consistently boost revenue during the preceding weekend without negative post-holiday effects. Conversely, non-winter Monday holidays (Memorial Day, Labor Day) lead to a pre-holiday surge but suffer a significant post-holiday slowdown. Holidays like Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Juneteenth show no notable revenue impact. Hoteliers can leverage these insights for strategic revenue management.

Hotel Marketing in 2025: The Complete Guide to Growing as a Hotelier

🏨 Hotel marketing is crucial for attracting travelers and optimizing hotel success. Key strategies include managing multiple channels to increase revenue and promote business. Marketing channels consist of hotel websites, Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), Global Distribution Systems (GDS), direct phone bookings, and metasearch sites. Digital marketing dominates, with over 75% of travelers using search engines to find hotels, necessitating strong Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to enhance visibility. Mobile bookings are trending, with 85% of people using smartphones for hotel research, making mobile-friendly websites imperative. Email marketing can be cost-effective, especially when targeting repeat guests, as acquiring new customers is 5 to 8 times more expensive. Social media's influence is significant, with 52% inspired to travel by friends' pictures, and platforms like Facebook and Instagram are key for engagement. SMS marketing boasts a 98% open rate within 90 seconds, making it an effective communication tool. For SEO, appearing on the first page of Google is crucial as it captures 90% of all traffic.

1 min

STAAH Weekly Hospitality Quiz: 20 December

🏨 STAAH's final Weekly Hotel Industry Quiz of the year is ready to challenge hospitality professionals' knowledge on topics like luxury hotel brands and essential hotel software, with the aim of keeping them informed on the latest industry trends. Quizzes have been offered weekly, and participants are encouraged to share their experience and catch up on past quizzes via STAAH’s blog.

2 min

STAAH Wrapped: Top 5 STAAH Blog Posts Hoteliers Loved in 2024

📖 In 2024, STAAH's top five blog posts for hoteliers included topics on hospitality professional traits, the TACT module launch, strategies for increasing direct bookings, trending hotel revenue streams, and dynamic pricing. These posts provided insights, practical tips, and innovative strategies for the hospitality industry, reflecting what matters most to professionals in the field.

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