TOP NEWS

🏠 Renaissance Hotels, within Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio, launched R FINDS, a global digital marketplace, on the 10th anniversary of Global Day of Discovery, November 19. The platform features 175+ products from local artisans and small businesses, representing over 175 Renaissance properties worldwide, and is curated with zero commission to support community businesses. Products include handcrafted goods, artisanal foods, decor, and apparel, with a honey kit featuring Edisto Gold Honey, Heaven's Honey, and Manoa Honey & Mead to be introduced in 2025. Global Day of Discovery events highlight the launch, with further exposure from Wallpaper magazine and guest editors like Sophia Roe. Visit www.R-Finds.com for neighborhood finds and www.renhotels.com for more about Renaissance Hotels.

📈 In October, the U.S. restaurant market share hit a record 56.4%, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Year-over-year gains were approximately 40 basis points. Retail sales rose 0.4% month-over-month and 2.8% year-over-year, signaling strong consumer spending. Experts suggest a positive impact from return-to-office mandates on the restaurant industry, potentially boosting weekday sales. Restaurants with catering services anticipate opportunities during the upcoming holiday season. Overall food and beverage spending growth in January-October 2024 was slower compared to the past three years.

🏕 Atzaró Group launched Atzaró Cape Town and Atzaró Okavango in 2024. The former, a luxury hotel in Cape Town, offers panoramic views and is near Table Mountain. The latter, a 30-minute helicopter flight from Maun Airport, provides a luxury safari experience in the Okavango Delta with its 12 suites, 2 villas, and amenities such as pools, star beds, and wi-fi. Conservation efforts include anti-poaching, habitat rejuvenation, and sustainable practices like solar power and water treatment. Guests are encouraged to stay 5+ days to indulge in wellness and nature.

🎄 Liam Crooks, MD of EMEA at Lightspeed, emphasizes a customer-first approach for hospitality businesses during the Christmas rush, suggesting the use of ePOS systems with table management like OpenTable for efficient booking optimization. A quarter of people plan to eat in on Christmas Eve, highlighting the importance of integrating with delivery services such as Uber Eats or Deliveroo. Additionally, creating a memorable Christmas experience with loyalty programs, personalized CRM tools, and well-managed staff scheduling via ePOS systems can drive customer loyalty year-round.

💳 In APAC, contactless mobile payments are expected to grow by 60% from 2022, with over 99% smartphone penetration and 67 million new users by 2024. Wellness trends are surging, with hotels adding health amenities to cater to health-conscious travelers. Experience-led hospitality is also growing, integrating local culture, sustainability, and wellness into guest experiences. TrustYou's Impact Scores for 2023 show Service at +3.78 positively, while Room Maintenance (-7.21), Bathroom (-6.47), and Bathroom Cleanliness (-5.55) negatively affect scores. Labor shortages challenge the industry, with APAC's Performance Score falling to 74.8 in Q2 2024, below the global average of 81.5. APAC hotels are expected to adopt hybrid hospitality and emphasize sustainability and responsible tourism in 2025.

💹 Key facts from the article emphasize the crucial role of integrated data management in the hotel industry for handling group and meeting bookings. Disjointed systems can cause operational chaos and damage guest experience, while centralized data systems improve efficiency and decision making, enabling hotels to adjust to guest habits and cancellation patterns. AI and BI tools are transforming data management with real-time insights for dynamic pricing and marketing. Implementing data-driven strategies enhances guest satisfaction and operational success in hospitality.

🏖 Marriott Bonvoy's 2025 research involved 21,374 adults across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, revealing that 42% plan more trips in 2025 compared to 2024, and 81% will travel the same amount. Forecasted are 2.3 domestic, 1.8 short-haul, and 1.4 long-haul holidays per person, totaling 5.5 holidays in 2025. Heritage holidays and "Bravecations" emerge as trends, with 36% having taken heritage trips, and 67% feeling braver on holiday. Use of AI for travel planning jumped from 26% to 41% in a year, with 72% considering environmental impact, up from 64%. Key accommodation factors are cleanliness (95%), price (92%), and location (91%); 65% prioritize sustainability, 47% pet-friendliness. “Getting a special price” motivates 52% of travelers for bookings, highlighting value-seeking behavior. Phil Andreopoulos of Marriott notes the strong travel desire and emerging trends like Bravecations, heritage holidays, savvy spending, AI travel planning, and sustainability.