IHG's Maalouf Believes Hotel Industry's High Rates Are Sustainable

With work and life patterns changing and the effect that has on travel, IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Elie Maalouf said he believes the hotel industry’s rate recovery is sustainable.

While room rates have increased, they haven’t risen at the pace of inflation, and overall travel demand continues to be strong across all segments, Maalouf, CEO of the Americas at IHG, said in a video interview at the NYU International Hospitality Investment Conference.

Leisure demand for hotels has been booming since about the second half of 2020, and now it’s in full bloom, he said. Business travel for groups and meetings is coming back as well, he said, noting that IHG's own Americas conference drew 5,000 attendees in Las Vegas.

“The place was full, not just our conference, but also the entire city was full,” he said.