TOP NEWS

🏠 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.

🏨 Marriott is expanding in Caribbean and Latin America, with Costa Rica hosting the most properties after Mexico. The Ritz-Carlton, Nekajui, in Papagayo, Costa Rica will open later this year. Marriott has nearly 500 properties across 25 brands in 37 countries in the region. Upcoming all-inclusive resorts include Almare in Isla Mujeres, and W Punta Cana scheduled for 2024. Marriott aims for growth in high-demand areas, with 600 rooms in Argentina, 1,600+ in Brazil, and 840+ in Colombia. Marriott Bonvoy partnered with Rappi, serving over 20 million users in Latin America.

🚗 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.

🏨 Moxy Hotels from Marriott International celebrates 10 years since its launch in Milan, 2014. Aimed to reach 100 hotels in Europe by 2025, adding 17 new properties including entries into Spain, Turkey, and Luxembourg. Currently, Moxy has 89 hotels in 18 European destinations, 60% of its global estate. New hotels include Moxy Barcelona with 414 rooms, Moxy Istanbul Beyoğlu with 168 rooms, and Moxy Luxembourg Airport with 129 rooms. Also expanding in France, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Belgium, Poland, Serbia, Germany, and Switzerland by 2025.

🏡 By 2030, the luxury hospitality market is expected to reach $369.23 billion. The industry emphasizes creating a unique, high-end image and experience, demonstrated by Aman Resorts and Ritz-Carlton, known for ultra-luxurious properties and exceptional service. Luxury branding, different from regular branding, centers on exclusivity, unique experiences, high quality, emotional connections, and status. Key strategies include understanding affluent customer preferences, creating exclusive experiences, and emphasizing quality and craftsmanship.

🏨 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.