‘An all time low’: UK hospitality bosses say industry is fighting for survival
Adrian Forte, owner of The Duck, a bar and restaurant in Bournemouth, describes the current circumstances in which his venue has to operate as unprecedented.
External Articles
IHG’s New CEO on Launching a New Brand and Making Hotels Profitable
IHG Hotels & Resorts‘ new CEO Elie Maalouf said his strategy is to make the company’s portfolio as appealing to owners and guests as possible. Maalouf spoke to Skift on Tuesday after his first earnings call as CEO, having taken the helm last month.
Hotels Strike Back in the Battle Against 'Hidden Charges
In a pushback against the recent government crackdown on so-called "junk fees," hotels are coming up with innovative ways to continue imposing extra charges on their guests. While these charges were expected to fade after the government's move to curtail them, hotels are instead introducing new, often confusing fees under various labels. These unexpected surcharges are leaving travelers frustrated and prompting a surge in disputes, both legal and at the front desk.
Hotels in the 2030s: Perspectives from Accor’s C-suite
As one of the largest hospitality companies in the world—and the largest in Europe—Accor is both an observer and a key player in the evolution of travel. Its expanding portfolio of more than 40 brands now encompasses over 5,400 hotels in 110 countries, with a workforce of more than 290,000 people. The company says it seeks to “reimagine hospitality” as it anticipates and caters to travelers’ changing needs and expectations.
The Rise of A Hotel Empire: The Inspiring Story Of Mohan Singh Oberoi
Mohan Singh Oberoi's life is a powerful testament to determination and resilience. Born in a small village in Pakistan’s Jhelum district, he faced hardships from an early age. Losing his father at just six months old, Oberoi's mother had to shoulder all responsibilities. Financial constraints made him leave school early, working in his uncle’s shoe factory in Lahore.
Tourists Go Home! Fed Up With Over-tourism, European Hotspots Impose Bans, Fines, Taxes
Fed up with housing shortages, traffic, noise, pollution and litter, many popular destinations in Europe are swapping their ‘come-to-us’ tourism campaigns for ‘please-don’t’ anti-tourism strategies — and some of the measures to discourage visitors are quite severe.
Rethink resilience - Four ways organisations can evolve for disruption
Being resilient by design is critical for both survival and for strategic advantage in an era where disruption is the norm. From a pandemic, war and cost of living crisis to extreme weather events, supply chain challenges and cyber attacks, the threats we all face are more frequent and complex than ever before.
Retain, retrain, transform Is the answer to the skills crisis staring businesses in the face?
The workforce will be very different by the end of the decade as the pace of innovation and technological disruption accelerates. To deliver transformation and growth, business leaders must reappraise the skills they need and their approach to retaining and developing their existing workforce, and create a culture of innovation to embrace the potential of artificial intelligence (AI).
Net-zero hotels realistic, but industry 'too fragmented' for global pledge: Sustainable tourism council chief
Big hotels have the ability to neutralise their carbon emissions by mid-century, but setting a global pledge covering all the players might be too difficult, according to the head of a nonprofit that sets standards for what counts as sustainable tourism.
Google Bard Could Simplify Travel Planning And Surpass ChatGPT Capabilities
Google’s new chatbot could simplify travel planning for people around the world. During the Google I/O 2023 conference in May, the tech giant announced it would soon add extensions to Bard. One of two Google chatbots in development, the new Bard advancements could surpass the capabilities of both ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Bing Chat, according to TechRadar.
Extreme weather is changing Europe’s tourism and the travel industry isn’t ready
An idyllic summer vacation turned into a nightmare after thousands of people were evacuated from Greek islands beset by wildfires – the latest reminder that Europe’s tourism industry needs to confront the realities of climate change and adapt fast.
ChatGPT loses users for first time, shaking faith in AI revolution
The number of people visiting AI chatbot ChatGPT’s website and downloading its app fell for the first time since its launch in November, a sign that consumer interest in artificial intelligence chatbots and image-generators may be beginning to wane.
The Travel Boom Among Americans Will Continue Through Shoulder Season
It’s been fairly well documented by this point via news reports, industry studies, and even social media, that Americans are traveling in droves this summer.
Growing Loyalty Programs Mean More Travelers Competing for Perks
Loyalty programs are everywhere, from coffee shops and local businesses to the major airline frequent flyer and hotel programs. In all, 89% of U.S. consumers were enrolled in at least one loyalty program as of 2020, according to a 2022 study.
Accor CEO: 'Impossible' to Segregate Leisure and Business Travel
Addressing the evolving needs of the hospitality industry will require embracing bleisure travel, as business and leisure are now "impossible" to segregate, Accor Group chairman and CEO Sébastien Bazin said during the hotel company's 2023 Global Meeting Exchange in Paris.
Climate Change Is Making Travel That Much Harder
In June, Amtrak’s Albany, N.Y, to Montreal train route was cancelled due to excessive heat. Service was suspended because a 47-mile stretch of the trip took four hours after the train was forced to slow to 10 miles per hour. The speed restriction was imposed because temperatures above 86°F (30°C) can make the rails misalign and cause derailment. In July, rail service between Albany and New York City was suspended after heavy rains completely washed out the tracks near the city of Poughkeepsie.
Fake reviews: can we trust what we read online as use of AI explodes?
The four-star hotel in Kraków in Poland, the review says, is “excellent”, a “short walk from the main square” and boasts a “first-rate” spa and fitness centre. A less positive review describes it as “small, cramped and outdated” with “lumpy” pillows. But then a family who stayed said they were made to feel “instantly welcome”.
Hotel Experts Say AI Will Make Room Pricing More Profitable
Hotel companies hope artificial intelligence (AI) will improve their skill at pricing rooms. Known as revenue management, the field relies on forecasting and is ripe for disruption.
Accor’s Top Digital Exec Reveals Data on Its Hotel Tech Game
Accor held a day of presentations for investors on June 27, and I wrote a piece covering 7 top slides from it. Today I want to highlight the most notable 20 minutes of the six hours of talks.
Philoxenia: The Ancient Roots of Greek Hospitality
The Greek word Philoxenia, literally translated as a “friend to a stranger,” is widely perceived to be synonymous to hospitality.