TOP NEWS

🍴 Adam Robinson, CEO of Hireology, shared insights on hospitality hiring trends in 2024, revealing that about 50% of job inventory disappeared since January, with hotels hiring at replacement rates, not expanding capacity. Research indicates that job seekers prioritize flexibility and well-being over maximum earnings. Effective referral programs can contribute to 40% of hires, reducing costs and improving retention. Streamlined application processes are critical, with a 70% drop off when login creation is required. Communication is key, with 69% of candidates expecting updates every few days. Offer acceptance declined from 67% to 49% in 2023, with candidates looking beyond pay to culture and career paths. Lastly, 81% of hospitality workers would consider returning to previous employers, highlighting the importance of maintaining relationships and leveraging technology for recruitment automation. 🍴

🏨 South America's hotel industry saw significant growth in TRevPAR (12.1%) and GOPPAR (12.5%) from January to August 2024, outpacing Central America and the Caribbean. In Q2, South America's TRevPAR and GOPPAR soared by 16.9% and 19.0%, respectively. Peru's TRevPAR and GOPPAR jumped by 42.2% and 80.5%, while Chile's increased by 21.2% and 38.6%, and Brazil saw rises of 10.8% and 9.0%. South America's flow-through rate stood at 38%, higher than the Caribbean (32%), Canada (27%), and the United States (6%), with a 2-percentage-point higher profit margin than the Americas average, attributed to lighter labor costs.

📌 Kristie Goshow, Chief Commercial Officer at KSL Resorts, discusses advancement in hiring women in hospitality, with Marriott and Accor having 40% and over 50% women in leadership respectively. She stresses merit over quotas for leadership roles. A 2023 Korn Ferry Institute study found 1 in 4 women affected by menopause consider quitting, highlighting gender disparities in career advancement. Goshow advocates for greater recognition of women's potential in executive recruiting, emphasizing the use of predictive tools and AI to aid the process. Women in hospitality features will continue until boards reflect guest demographics and more women become CEOs. Key trends include AI integration, agility in teams, personalized brand experiences, and innovative revenue management. 🏨

🏨 Multi-user systems in hotels allow various departments to collaborate, breaking down operational silos and enhancing guest experiences. Demand Calendar exemplifies these systems, with daily logins from 5 to 10 users across roles such as marketing, sales, revenue management, and operations. This approach promotes real-time data sharing, seamless communication, and data-driven decision-making. Multi-user platforms are essential for hotels to adapt, innovate, and maintain a competitive edge in today's market.

🂱 Nevin Reed, Senior Director of Casino Services, emphasizes the importance of a casino-centric revenue management strategy, including technology for analyzing supply, demand, worth data, and total profit. Key strategies involve segmentation, forecasting, open pricing, leveraging loyalty programs, and dynamic reinvestment to optimize each booking and maximize revenue. Casinos can increase profitability by adjusting offers for various customer segments and dynamically customizing rates based on total customer value, ultimately enhancing the guest experience.

💰 Airobot, founded in 2018, simplifies airline and airport ancillary sales for travel agencies and airlines with services like Automated Check-in, boosting ancillary revenue. They will attend the Phocuswright Conference in Phoenix, November 19-21. Virgin Atlantic considers separate loyalty programs for US and European customers, addressing the high point accumulation from US credit cards and the need for fixed points for European customers. McKinsey highlights Travel Tuesday's growth, after Cyber Monday, as a prime time for travel deals. Booking Holdings, Expedia, and Airbnb report Q3 results with room night bookings up by 8%, 9%, and revenue growth by 10%, respectively. Paid services to skip lines at theme parks and airports are on the rise, with GetYourGuide noting a fivefold increase in sales of such experiences since 2019. Phocuswright's top 25 travel startups to watch in 2025 include companies recommended by Travel Investor Network in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Travel Tech Essentialist Job Board lists positions like Senior AI Engineer in New York City with a salary range of $185k - $220k plus equity. Newsletter sponsorship opportunities for 2025 are now open for travel tech professionals.

🏥 Peter Schickling, a 1993 Glion alumnus and GM of W Barcelona, Hazel Limfat, a 2016 Glion graduate part of Waldorf Astoria New York's reopening team, and entrepreneur Frédéric Biousse discussed their experiences and insights at a live event in October. They shared professional and entrepreneurial philosophies, career stories, and industry changes, including the multi-billion dollar refurbishment of the Waldorf Astoria and the evolution of luxury to be more meaningful.