Reports

The Resilience Of Business Tourism In France | tourism-review.com

Tourism in France suffered greatly last year; especially Paris and its suburbs. The hotel industry in Ile-de- France reported that the number of overnight stays in the second quarter of 2016 fell by 10.6% compared to the previous year. The decline in the number of foreign customers was particularly noticeable: 13.9% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2016. Japanese tourists were the biggest group that left Paris, their number dropped by 46.2% compared to the previous year. Fortunately, business tourism, the professional counterpart to leisure tourism, is performing better, and despite a lackluster year, the Ile-de-France maintains its dominant position in Europe.

tourism-review.com

France

Brexit: A Boon For Domestic Tourism In Great Britain? | tourism-review.com

The vote of British electors in favor of the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union (EU) in June 2016, commonly known as “Brexit,” will have consequences for the country's tourism industry, as well as for Europe. It seems domestic tourism will benefit quite substantially. It was one of the most discussed topics at the World Travel Market (WTM) 2016. It is the subject of an entire chapter in the 7th edition of the “Industry Report” presented by the fair and is at the heart of several conferences.

tourism-review.com

United Kingdom

HVS Market Pulse: Branson, MO

Named after the owner of the area's first general store and later developed as a center for lumber shipments, Branson, Missouri, had an inauspicious start as a tourism destination. Over the course of the past century, however, Branson has built a reputation as a "family friendly" counterpart to Las Vegas, featuring a high density of live music and theater performance venues along a stretch of State Highway 76 nicknamed "The Strip."

By Justin Westad, Vice President at HVS Minneapolis, HVS

Branson, Missouri, United States

Hotel Bulletin Q3 2016

The Q3 2016 Hotel Bulletin analyses the first full quarter of data following the EU referendum in June. Very early trends suggest that a divide could be emerging between leisure and corporate focused markets. Cities with larger tourist industries recorded strong RevPAR growth as international visitors flocked to benefit from a weaker Pound, whereas cities outside this group continued recent trends of plateauing or declining RevPAR. This quarter's Focus examines he independently branded hotel market, where a number of groups have created unique customer propositions and enjoyed significant success.

By Russell Kett, Chairman at HVS - London Office, HVS

United Kingdom

In Focus: Udaipur – An Oasis of Potential

Located in the Girwa valley, amidst the desert of Rajasthan, stands the city of Udaipur. The once capital of the mighty Mewar Kingdom, Udaipur is now one of the most sought after leisure destinations India has to offer. Aptly known as the "City of Lakes", the scenic Lake Pichola and Fateh Sagar Lake are centres of most of the leisure activity in the city. The atmosphere of royalty can not only be sensed in the palaces and gardens of Udaipur, but by way of the luxury hospitality experience as well. This article focuses on the history and progress of the Udaipur hotel market in addition to a brief outlook of its future potential.

By Shunit Roy, Analyst at HVS New Delhi, HVS

Udaipur, India

The Business of Leisure in India

Twenty years is a long time to understand a hotel market, which is about the same time when the first HVS Asian office was set up in New Delhi. Yes, what is happening in the leisure space for hotel accommodation in India today is indeed a revelation that needs to be recognized.

By Manav Thadani, Chairman - HVS Asia Pacific, HVS

India

In Focus: Greece

In December 2008, we put together an article titled "The Changing Face of the Greek Hospitality Market" outlining the situation in the Greek hotel market at that time. Nearly eight years later, and after a volatile period inside and outside the country, we think it is appropriate to update our findings since we all live in "a completely different world" which has been profoundly transformed in terms of the sense of general prosperity prevailing in the Western economies since the mid-2000s. Thus, we wonder: "Has the Greek Hospitality Market Even Changed?"

By Nana Boussia, Themis Trakas, and Pavlos Papadimitriou

Greece

HVS Market Pulse: Baton Rouge, LA

Baton Rouge, aka the "Red Stick," was so named by 17th century French explorers who came upon a native boundary marker at the top of a bluff, in the form of pole painted red. Now the capital city of the state of Louisiana, Baton Rouge is also the seat of East Baton Rouge Parish and the political hub of Louisiana.

By Bunmi Oyinloye, Senior Vice President, Leader - Houston Office, Houston, HVS

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

Corporate Hotel Rate Negotiations 2017 Forecast – A Change in the Balance of Power from Sellers to Buyers

As the corporate and contract rate negotiation season is about to begin, the 2017 outlook is for a change in the balance of power from sellers to buyers. Corporate and contract rate negotiations generally begin during September and continue into December. Corporate and contract rates represent almost 20 percent of occupied U.S. room nights and almost 30 percent of U.S. lodging industry revenue.Following among the largest percent and dollar increases in corporate contract rates in decades of typically between 5.75 to 7 percent for 2016, the forecast for 2017 is for increases on 3.25 to 4.0 percent. Overall average daily rate (ADR) for the U.S. lodging industry is expected to increase approximately 4.5 to 5.0 percent in 2016, with smaller increases for 2017 of 4.0 to 4.5 percent.U.S. hotel occupancy in 2015, approximately 65.5 percent, was the highest since 1984 and consensus forecast for 2016 at the time of the negotiations was for occupancy to increase, so the balance of power in negotiations favored sellers. Actual occupancy will be slightly lower than occupancy in 2015.There are four factors that will have the greatest effect to shift the balance of power from the sellers to the buyers:

By Bjorn Hanson, Ph.D., Clinical Professor, NYU

United States

In Focus: Patras, Greece

Patras is the regional capital of Western Greece and the country's third largest city. It is located 215 kilometers west of Athens, within Achaia Prefecture, while the port of the city serves as the main gateway to Greece from Western Europe. Τhe urban complex of the city is the third most populous in Greece after the ones of Athens and Thessaloniki and it constitutes one of the largest financial, commercial, and cultural center of the Peloponnese Peninsula and Western Greece. The city hosts the University of Patras which is one of the country's most prominent public universities and the University Regional General Hospital which is affiliated with the University of Patras and has earned a reputation as a well-respected medical center.

By Nana Boussia and Pavlos Papadimitriou

Patras, Greece

2016 Manhattan Lodging Overview 2Q

The 2016 HVS Manhattan Lodging Overview examines the effects of up and down economic cycles on Manhattan hotels, reviewing trends in hotel performance, supply, and demand over the past 25 years. The report also provides the most current information available on today's market, as well as forecasts for supply growth and hotel performance.

By Roland deMilleret and Chris Fernandes

New York, New York, United States

2016 African Hotel Valuation Index | By Tim Smith, Tshepo Makhudu, Laura Dutrieux

Welcome to the third edition of the African Hotel Valuation Index (HVI). We are thrilled that the number of markets included in the study continues to grow. In the first edition we had 14 cities, that grew to 18 last year and this year it has increased again to 21 cities in 16 different countries. A 50% increase in markets in such a short space of time is indicative of the ever increasing interest in the African hotel market. Moreover, and equally importantly it also illustrates an improved transparency and increase in data across the continent.

By Tim Smith and Tshepo Makhudu

In Focus: Myanmar

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia bordered by Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, and Thailand. As the second-largest country in Southeast Asia, Myanmar has a total land area of 676,578 square kilometers and 1,920 kilometers of coastline, which borders the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. Governed as a unitary parliamentary republic, there are 15 administrative states/regions in the country. The capital city was moved to Naypyidaw in 2005, from the previous capital and the largest commercial city, Yangon.

By Ho Leng, Hok CHEE, and Eva Shen

Myanmar

In Focus: Zurich

Zürich remains an important finacial centre; however, the global finanical crisis took its toll and the corporate market, especially, has become much more price-sensitive, affecting hotel rates and meeting and events revenue. Unpegging the Swiss franc from the euro in January 2015 made the country instantly more expensive, which not only had repercussions on the tourism industry but also the competitiveness of its export economy.

By Nicole Perreten, Consulting & Valuation Analyst, HVS

Zurich, Switzerland

August 2016: bleak outlook for French hoteliers | hospitality-on.com

This August 2016 once again offers bleak results marked by a more generalized down trend. Unlike the previous months, no category was spared and the trend may be observed in the different regions as well as in Paris and the Ile de France. The impact of the attacks last July 14 in Nice was unfortunately quick to take effect: the strong drops in Paris, the Île de France and PACA regions all pulled the national result down into the red, even if certain regions, particularly shorelines, showed slight growth.

hospitality-on.com

France

2016 Hotels in India: Trends & Opportunities

The season's first rainfall. A child's first words. Your very first pay check. Beginnings are a cherished feeling! Why should it be any different in the world of hotels?

By Achin Khanna and Diksha Chopra

India

Indonesia is the Next China for the Hospitality Industry

Right now, we are all still talking about the rapid growth of China and to a lesser extend India, Russia and Brazil under the collective banner of BRIC. Their evolution into capitalistic territories has presented countless lucrative prospects for hospitality organizations both big and small. But there should be a fifth name in this acronym which is often overshadowed despite what's happening on the ground and despite it being the fourth most populous country in the world.

By Larry Mogelonsky, Partner, Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited

Indonesia

Freitag’s 5: July occupancy drops, demand sets record | hotelnewsnow.com

July's occupancy decline was the sharpest of 2016 so far, but July was also the highest room demand month ever. Here are five things you need to know about how the U.S. hotel industry performed in July, courtesy of STR, HNN's parent company.

HotelNewsNow

United States

U.S. Lodging Industry Fees and Surcharges Forecast to Increase to a New Record Level in 2016 – $2.55 Billion

Following the 2015 record of $2.45 billion, total fees and surcharges collected by U.S. hotels are forecast to increase to another record level of $2.55 billion in 2016. Although the amount will establish a record level of fees and surcharges, the percent increase will be the lowest since 2009.The increase for 2016 reflects a combination of approximately 2.0 percent more occupied hotel rooms than in 2015, more categories of fees and surcharges, and higher amounts charged, but lower fees and surcharges for high speed Internet access, for a total increase of approximately 4.0 percent.Fees and surcharges emerged as a common industry practice around 1997, and a notable event in the history of fees and surcharges was when energy surcharges were introduced for a large number of hotels in 2000. Since then there have been numerous categories of fees and surcharges introduced.Examples of fees and surcharges include: resort or amenity fees, early departure fees, reservation cancellation fees related to timing of cancellation, Internet fees, telephone call surcharges, some business center fees (including charges for receiving faxes and sending/receiving overnight packages), room service delivery surcharges, mini-bar restocking fees, charges for in-room safes, automatic gratuities and surcharges for other than all-inclusive resorts, baggage holding fees for guests leaving luggage with bell staff after checking out of a hotel but before departure, and charges for unattended parking. For groups there have been increased charges for bartenders and other staff at events, special charges for set-up and breakdown of meeting rooms, and administrative fees for master folio billing.Among the newest of fees and surcharges relate to a "guarantee" of a specific room type such as a room with a King bed or two Queen beds, or a room on a high floor, typically subject to availability.An increasingly common relatively new fee or surcharge is for early check-in, primarily for resorts, more common in Las Vegas (typically check-in time might be 3:00 pm, but if a guest arrives earlier and a guest room is available, traditionally there was not a charge for early check-in). Other of the more recently introduced fees and surcharges include charging for unattended surface parking in suburban locations and holding checked luggage.U.S. lodging industry fees and surcharges have increased every year except for brief periods following 2001 and 2008 when lodging demand declined.Fees and surcharges are highly profitable; many have incremental profitability of 80 to 90 percent or more of the amounts collected.Some fees and surcharges are sometimes unfairly called "hidden" or "surprise," but disclosure on websites, confirmation emails, "tent" cards in guest rooms, room service menus, and guest service binders continues to increase in the nature of the disclosure. One of the reasons for the sense that some of these fees and surcharges are "hidden" or "surprise" is because the categories are often established and the amounts are set hotel-by-hotel rather than by brand, and both can change frequently.In 2012, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Division of Advertising Practices issued 22 warning letters to the hotel industry about disclosure of resort fees. The FTC is currently focused on resort fees.Senator Claire McCaskill announced in February 2016 that she is introducing legislation targeting what she refers to as "deceptive hotel fees" that are "bait and switch" practices that resort guests are "slapped with", based on hearing from "hundreds of Missourians".There are occasional statements that it would be better to include resort and other fees and surcharges in room rates, but there are several reasons this is not the general practice, including that the higher room rate would subject the fee amount to municipal occupancy taxes; room rates change frequently and are closely monitored by many travelers but resort and other fees and surcharges change less frequently; and the focus of many travelers is on the room rate.The estimated amounts of fees and surcharges collected are summarized below:

By Bjorn Hanson, Ph.D., Clinical Professor, NYU

United States

Global tourism GDP resilient this year, but woes for France, Turkey | reuters.com

Travel and tourism will contribute less than previously forecast to the economies of France, Turkey and Brazil this year, hit by attacks, political and economic turmoil, though globally the sector is resilient, the World Travel and Tourism Council said.

Brazil is hosting the Olympic Games this year but its travel and tourism sector has suffered under a political crisis, its worst recession since the 1930s, and the Zika virus.

The sector's contribution to Brazil's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to shrink by 1.6 percent this year, against a previous forecast for a drop of 0.9 percent, the WTTC said.

reuters.com