TOP NEWS

📢 Sloan Dean, CEO of Remington Hospitality, discussed attracting millennials and Gen Z to the hospitality industry on Feb. 4, 2025. The focus was on rethinking benefits and adapting to new workforce expectations. The insights were shared during an episode of the Hospitality Daily Podcast.

📈 Phocuswright's data projects global gross bookings to grow from $1.6 trillion in 2024 to $1.72 trillion in 2025. Online gross bookings will increase from $1.0 trillion in 2024 to $1.2 trillion by 2026, capturing 65% of the market. In 2024, online short-term rental bookings hit $176.3 billion. Over 75% of online air ticket sales were direct from airlines. North America's gross bookings are expected to reach $568.5 billion in 2025. Funding for travel startups fell to a 10-year low in 2023 at $5.2 billion, with $4.3 billion by 3Q24. B2B startups are outpacing B2C in funding, and 50% of travelers anticipate using GenAI within the next year.

🍔 Killer Burger added a second KDS screen, reducing wait times by 78%, with 90% of orders now under 10 minutes. They partnered with ezCater for catering, including a Burger Box of 12 sliders. They're piloting self-serve kiosks to enhance guest experience, particularly for the 70% of first-time visitors. Marketing relies on word of mouth and social media, with influencer partnerships for new openings, like November’s in San Antonio, Texas. Future expansion may include more drive-thrus; currently, two locations have them.

🏖 Meliá Hotels International, with Maria Zarraluqui as Global Development VP, prioritizes leisure destinations with a strategic presence in Southern Europe, the Balkans, and the Americas. The company boasts 3,200 keys across 21 hotels in Albania and plans for expansion in Croatia, Bulgaria, and Latin America, including Buenos Aires. They maintain a sustainable, quality-focused expansion with long-term partnerships, such as a 40-year collaboration in Bali. Asset distribution in their portfolio is 14-16% owned, 30% leased, and the majority managed or franchised. Meliá empowers women through training, mentoring, and leadership opportunities, with sustainability being a strategic priority for over a decade. Recent expansions include new hotels in Malta, Lisbon, Mallorca, Costa Brava, Punta Cana, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, Pattaya, and Bali, along with a significant presence in the Middle East, including five hotels in Riyadh. The development team comprises around 25 global professionals, including 20 developers.

🏫 Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, launches an ambitious £12M roof restoration to be completed by 2026, to protect its heritage. Starting Spring 2025, visitors can enjoy three exclusive experiences: 'Roof Top View,' 'Life Below Stairs,' and 'Family Treasures.' These provide unique perspectives, uncover servant history, and reveal private treasures. Group tickets start at £39, with discounts for 15+ visitors, free access for group leaders, and perks for coach drivers. Restoration addresses water damage, beetle infestation, and preserving the ceiling fresco by Sir James Thornhill. The project also aims to improve environmental controls, safety, and energy efficiency. Contact for group bookings: 01993 815600 or email groups@blenheimpalace.com.

📰 Creator media economy generated nearly $250 billion in revenue last year, 15% of the global media and entertainment (M&E) market. It's grown approximately 25% annually over the past four years, accounting for almost half of global M&E growth, while corporate media has grown at 3%. The creator economy is expected to exceed $600 billion and 25% of global M&E revenue by 2030. Technological, cultural, demographic, and economic factors suggest it could grow even faster, increasingly at the expense of traditional media.

🏦 Sloan Dean, CEO of Remington Hospitality, discusses the merits of smart growth over rapid scaling in a podcast episode. On February 3, 2025, insights into building a people-first company and the significance of food and beverage in the hospitality industry were shared. This episode is featured among the "Most Popular Episodes" on the Hospitality Daily Podcast.

🏨 - **Who:** Donte Johnson and Jason Bass, previously from Hotel Revival in Baltimore, now at Thompson Atlanta Buckhead. - **What:** Developed a concept called "impact hospitality" and produced a textbook on the subject. - **Where:** Baltimore and Atlanta. - **When:** Events mentioned occurred in late 2019; the timeframe of the interview is not specified. - **How:** By creating events and leveraging community engagement, they transitioned their hotel into a community hub and sparked industry interest. - **Key Facts:** - Donte was impressed by Jason's event management skills and creativity. - In October 2019, they collaborated on a successful event. - By December 2019, Jason proposed an innovative mobile beverage experience. - Their unique approach to hospitality was highlighted at an annual meeting, leading to Jason's involvement in consulting. - The duo emphasizes building community alongside business for better outcomes. - Their transition from Baltimore to Atlanta maintained their momentum. - In Atlanta, they formed an advisory board of community leaders to ensure their hotel initiatives align with local needs. Summary: Donte Johnson and Jason Bass, known for their unique approach to hospitality through community engagement at Hotel Revival in Baltimore, have taken their expertise to Thompson Atlanta Buckhead. They've produced a textbook on "impact hospitality," a concept that integrates hotels into their communities for mutual benefit. Their success began with events in 2019 and has since evolved into

🏆 iSeatz released its annual U.S. travel loyalty report analyzing behavior, program design, and tech adoption data from 256 decision-makers and 4,341 consumers. Findings show 55% of U.S. consumers are in travel rewards programs, a majority for the first time. Brands now use customer lifetime value (47%) and net promoter score (43%) to measure success. Savings remain the top priority for 44% of consumers, yet 62% find booking experiences frustrating. Only 29% of brands are enhancing user experience, revealing a disconnect. AI use is reported by 47% of consumers, with 45% of brands seeing AI integration as a challenge. Personalization is key, with high demand among luxury members (84%) and households with children (76%). 📥 Download the full 2025 report for more insights.

🏥 The 24th Hospitality Awards, organized by Hospitality ON, celebrated industry innovation and excellence. Puneet Chhatwal of Indian Hotels Company presented awards across 20+ categories. B&B HOTELS ACADEMY won for talent management, Sunlife Marine Conservation for environmental protection, and Land & Life Foundation for social responsibility. Accor's The Wave x Paris 2024 and La Glace x Paris 2024 took marketing honors, while the Best Innovative Guest Experience went to Anantara Luxury Rail Journey. Local awards included Best F&B Experience Innovation by Spice Spoons (Anantara, MINOR) and Best Health & Wellness Experience by Thalazur – Epigenetic Experience. More details are available on the Awards platform, showcasing innovative ideas and strategies in the hospitality sector.