With much of Europe's hotel sector still closed for business, the industry faces a huge challenge to rebuild consumer confidence once COVID-19 lockdown restrictions start to lift later this year.

In the course of each year my colleagues and I see a huge number of hotel P&Ls and, within them, there are often wide variances in performance, even in like-for-like situations - whether it is better or worse revenue generation, cost control or effectiveness.

Consultants are always expected to make predictions and to prepare forecasts, so I do not intend to disappoint you with this bulletin. I predict that, by the time you open this email, something will have happened to ensure that you determine that at least one point I am writing about now is judged to be wrong.

HVS identifies five key issues that hotels need to consider moving into the new decade, including the fact that travellers are now expecting a more personal service, the issue of corporate responsibility and the importance of attracting and retaining good staff.

Hotels in Israel saw another record performance in 2018 as the country experienced a lull in geo-political turmoil and a rise in incoming tourist numbers, according to our new report. Over the past few years, Israel has seen significant growth in its tourism sector.