TOP NEWS

💼 Christopher Hunsberger, former executive at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, shares his experience in leading product and service innovation during a significant CEO transition when Izzy Sharp was replaced by Katie Taylor. Entrusted by Taylor, he took on the role to explore future directions for the company, which was already 30 years into its history. Over two or three years, Hunsberger worked with various levels of the organization and consultants to foster a stronger culture of innovation, emphasizing nimbleness, agility, and a willingness to embrace failure for successful risk-taking and collaboration.

🏨 GuestRevu’s final quarter of 2024 is packed with events, starting with the HMA Hotelier Meetup on October 3, including a Masterclass featuring their marketing manager Sarah Came. The Independent Hotel Show London runs from October 15-16 with 200+ industry products and a partnership between GuestRevu and HOSPA. Tech-Tonic, on October 22, features a workshop by their regional sales manager, Amy Brandford. WTM London is from November 5-7, expected to exceed last year's by 7%. The GuestRevu GREAT Awards, in partnership with Stenden University, HOSPA, HotelTime, and HOP, occur on November 6 during WTM. The season ends with HOSPACE on November 14, a leading industry networking event ending with a gala dinner and awards.

🏠 Linsey Gallagher, President and CEO of Visit Napa Valley, reveals how the hospitality industry significantly supports the local economy, with 16,000 families relying on it for livelihood, and visitors spending approximately $2.5 billion annually. Napa Valley welcomes 3.7 million people each year, contributing to $108 million in tax revenue for community services. Local budgets are heavily supported by tourism taxes, with Calistoga receiving nearly 75%, Yountville 65%, and Napa almost 30%. Collaboration between hotels, local businesses, and organizations like Visit Napa Valley is key to enhancing visitor experiences and driving demand.

💳 Martin Soler, co-founder of 10minutes.news, discusses the implications of over-regulation in Europe, affecting the technology and hotel industries. Recent regulatory efforts, like rate-parity and GDPR, have paradoxically made it harder for small companies to grow, ultimately reducing competition. Europe's focus on post-regulation rather than pre-regulation is highlighted as a necessity for fostering innovation. The hospitality industry's slow adoption of payment technologies is criticized, suggesting a need for a guest experience overhaul akin to the transformations seen in companies like Uber, Airbnb, and Amazon. Additionally, the proliferation of hotel brands is deemed non-problematic as long as standards are maintained.

🚗 EV Connect's 12-month benchmark study of 78 hotel properties showed an average EV charger utilization of 28%, with 73.1% of these hotels offering paid charging services. Monthly session growth rate averaged 3.3%, indicating increasing demand for EV chargers. Additionally, over half of the charging sessions came from new drivers. The top 10% of hotels on the network earned nearly $11,000 per year from charging, significantly contributing to higher revenue per available room rates (revPAR). With 10% of vehicles expected to be electric by 2030, EV charging is becoming essential for hotels to attract guests and increase retention.

🏨 Summary: The article on Hotel OTA Agreement discusses how Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) charge hotels for their services, including commission rates and specific clauses within OTA agreements that can affect hotel revenue. Although no specific percentages or clauses are mentioned in the excerpt provided, the article seems to aim at educating hoteliers on the financial and contractual aspects of working with OTAs. The post was written by Suniti Bahl and was published on September 25, 2024.

💾 The Grand Royale Hotel's revenue manager Emily was overwhelmed with manual tasks, facing isolation, burnout, and declining performance. Meanwhile, Alex of The Elite Haven Hotel used automation tools to eliminate tedious tasks, spurring profits and earning bonuses. Emily, inspired by Alex, proposed automation to her GM, who initially rejected the idea. With support from colleagues and after a pilot's success, their hotel saw improved profits and employee morale, validating the shift to automation and strategic work over manual labor.

📢 STAAH, a New Zealand hospitality solutions provider, held ‘The Big Connect’ event in Mumbai, attended by over 400 experts. In partnership with Booking.com and WebBeds, the conference at Sahara Star Hotel focused on tech-driven solutions for hotels, aiming to increase online bookings, revenue, and streamline distribution. National Sales Head – India, Shoaib Ali, highlighted the event’s success and potential future expansion. The event concluded with entertainment including a live comedy act.