TOP NEWS

🏎 BWH Hotels' 2024 Annual Convention, themed “Accelerate,” started with a Welcome Reception at NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event stresses teamwork and efficiency, illustrated by a pit crew video with a 1.8-second pit stop record. BWH Hotels North American properties achieved a 2.5% year-over-year increase in ADR and a $1 billion revenue milestone with a 6.2% growth, marking 43 months of consecutive growth. Worldwide sales hit $8.5 billion. BestREV 2.0 is aiding 1,350 North American hotels in setting rates. Guest experience is prioritized, as shown by a Medallia score of 82.3% across 2,000+ properties. The loyalty program will pay back $64 million to members this year, $17 million more than last year, and partnerships like Canary aim to enhance guest messaging and upselling. A new global marketing campaign, “Life's a Trip,” has been launched, including Olympic ads.

📈 Marriott International, Inc. announced Connect Responsibly with Marriott Bonvoy Events to enhance sustainability in meetings at Marriott Bonvoy hotels globally by end of October. Program provides Meeting Impact Reports for environmental assessment and carbon credit purchase options through South Pole collaboration. Reports, available in 11 languages, detail event carbon and water footprints. Marriott focuses on industry-informed sustainability, responding to customer demand for eco-conscious meeting solutions.

📅 IHG's Q3 2024 trading update showed global RevPAR up 1.5 percent, Americas up 1.7 percent, EMEAA up 4.9 percent, and Greater China down 10.3 percent. Year to date (YTD) global RevPAR rose 2.4 percent. A 5.9 percent YOY gross system size growth with 17,500 rooms opened in Q3, and net system size up 4.1 percent YOY. Global system reached 968,000 rooms across 6,505 hotels. Q3 saw 19,200 new rooms signed, a 14 percent YOY increase. IHG's share buyback program for 2024 reached $614 million of the $800 million target, reducing shares by 3.7 percent, and the company is on track to return over $1 billion to shareholders. The Venetian Resort Las Vegas will no longer be affiliated with IHG from January 1, 2025, impacting less than 0.1 percent of revenue.

📌 Hotels must balance productivity with efficiency and service quality, ensuring labor is optimized without overworking staff or sacrificing guest experiences. Optimal productivity intervals are key, avoiding inefficiency and overextension. Continuous improvement and embracing innovations like robot vacuum cleaners and business intelligence tools are vital for staying competitive. Implementing these technologies can enhance efficiency, employee satisfaction, and guest experiences, avoiding complacency and fostering a culture of innovation.

🏨 In October 2024, digital marketing trends emerged for the hospitality industry involving platforms like Google, Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Google Ads introduced image extensions to YouTube campaigns, allowing hoteliers to showcase amenities and increase bookings. Meta's Click-to-Messenger facilitated direct customer communication, enhancing service personalization. TikTok created opportunities for interactive campaigns and branded challenges, targeting younger demographics. LinkedIn personalized corporate outreach via Sponsored Messages, aiming at B2B marketing. Pinterest partnered with influencers for authentic content, improving trust and engagement. These strategies are vital for hotels to stay competitive and enhance customer experiences.

🏨 In the U.S., 20% of the population has a disability impacting internet usage. Hotel websites often lack fast loading speeds, mobile optimization, and fail to evolve with changing technology and guest expectations. Amazon's model of continuous small improvements is suggested for hotels to treat their websites as dynamic services, enhancing accessibility, user experience, and SEO, thus driving direct bookings and brand loyalty.

📢 Jason Himber, CEO of MINA Group, discussed hospitality's evolution in an episode on Oct. 20, 2024. The industry is integrating with retail, entertainment, and offices, with a focus shift in hotels towards food and beverage offerings. Key mentions include LVMH, Uber Eats, and DoorDash, emphasizing experience-driven innovation. The episode also highlights the role of food and beverage as central to hospitality, regardless of new technological advancements. This discussion is supported by Hireology and includes resources for actioning ideas presented.