TOP NEWS

💸 Over 73% of hotel bookings come through Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Booking.com or Expedia, with 75% of clicks going to the top 15 listings on the first OTA page. Achieving high visibility on OTAs is vital but requires a deep understanding of ever-changing algorithms that consider factors like guest reviews, content quality, and market trends. Bart-Jan Leyts, CEO of Otamiser, launched the OTA ranking management platform in 2022, focusing on strategic ranking optimization to drive revenue in the hospitality industry.

📆 Kempinski Hotels launched "Responsible Meetings & Events by Kempinski" to reduce the environmental impact of events, in collaboration with EarthCheck. VenueCheck, an essential part of the initiative, helps assess event sustainability, with 43 Kempinski hotels EarthCheck-certified and 17 more pursuing certification. EventCalculator estimates an event's carbon footprint, ensuring compliance with Greenhouse Gas Protocol and IPCC Reporting Guidelines. Currently, 18 Kempinski hotels are VenueCheck verified, with 12 more pending. By 2025, Kempinski aims for all EarthCheck-certified hotels to join the program.

🏡 UKinbound recognized Blenheim Palace as the Sustainable Tourism Provider of the Year on 26 September during the Awards for Excellence ceremony, held at Liverpool Cathedral. The UK's inbound tourism industry, represented by UKinbound, generated over £31 billion last year. Blenheim Palace aims for Net Zero by 2027 and to sequester 230,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2050. Over 320 professionals attended the event, which also featured a convention with speakers like Scott O'Neil, CEO of Merlin Entertainments.

💾 Key facts: Choosing the right Revenue Management System (RMS) enhances profitability and simplifies operations. Considerations for an RMS include automation, real-time dynamic pricing, centralized control, and scalability. Independent hotels need user-friendly RMS with minimal manual intervention. Urban hotels require sophisticated RMS for real-time pricing adjustments. Hotel groups benefit from centralized control across properties. Hotel management companies need an RMS for efficient performance optimization across portfolios. Aligning RMS features with hotel needs is crucial for success.

🏩 Adam Zembruski, hotel investor and founder of Hospiamo, Inc. and the Hospitality Industry Impact Initiative, Inc., shares his journey from a front desk agent to COO and his return to hospitality's roots on Oct. 5, 2024. Highlights include the value of staying connected to front-line staff, overcoming industry challenges, and the therapeutic benefits of expressive outlets, all discussed in an episode of the Hospitality Daily Podcast.

🍳 José Andrés and partners have developed the José Andrés Group over 25 years, now featuring nearly 40 concepts across Chicago, Vegas, LA, Miami, NYC, Orlando, DC, The Bahamas, and Dubai. Vegas restaurants like China Poblano offer unique desserts such as the Giggling Buddha, and Jaleo's top dessert is Andrés' mom's traditional flan.

💰 The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, enacted after receiving Royal Assent in May 2022, mandates businesses to distribute 100% of tips to staff. Chef Calum Franklin will oversee Harrods’ The Georgian's evening menu, highlighting British cuisine and his signature pies, after his departure from Holborn Dining Room in summer 2022. Despite a turnover increase from £15.7m to £16.4m in 2023, Richard Corrigan Restaurants reports a £1.1m loss, contrasting with a 7% revenue rise and 57% adjusted EBITDA increase at Virginia Park Lodge, Ireland. Michael O’Hare closes Leeds restaurant Psycho Sandbar after seven months. StreetSmart's charity campaign, starting November 1, 2024, aims to raise funds with over 500 restaurants, including newcomers like Julie's and Kolae in London, and Mana in Manchester.

💸 Small and mid-size hotels rely on the right OTA channel manager to update room availability, pricing, and bookings on platforms like Booking.com and Expedia. A proper channel manager streamlines operations, prevents overbookings, and maximizes revenue. Key considerations when choosing include real-time updates, integration with the Property Management System (PMS), user-friendly interface, dynamic pricing tools, and reporting analytics. Additional factors are OTA network coverage, customer support, cost, and scalability to support business growth.

💲 In June, a report showed 63% of hospitality businesses took a cut of employees’ tips, with 29% using them to cover costs and 28% taking a profitable share. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act, which prohibits businesses from withholding service charges from employees, was enforced this week, aiming to reallocate £200m yearly back to staff. A RSM UK survey found 80% of consumers support staff receiving 100% of tips. Ping Pong, a London-based restaurant chain, faced backlash for trying to circumvent the law with a 15% 'brand charge,' later reducing it to a 5% discretionary service charge distributed to staff.

📝 85% of UK hospitality workers experienced poor mental health in the past year, with 67% desiring more notice of shift patterns. Planday's survey of over 2,000 shift workers informs The Single Biggest Shift campaign, targeting enhanced employee retention and happiness. 15% wouldn't recommend the industry, citing low pay (66%), long hours (57%), and rota control (46%). Currently, 53% plan to leave their jobs, and 68% considered industry change due to erratic scheduling. Planday CEO, Dave Lee, suggests planning shifts ahead and better mental health support to retain staff; 47% prioritize work-life balance, and 25% want regular working patterns.