April Jobs Report: Leisure and Hospitality Gains Worst Since End of 2020
U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued a statement on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ April employment report.
News
AAHOA Names New President & CEO
Following a vote by the AAHOA Board of Directors, Laura Lee Blake, Esq., will be the new President and CEO of AAHOA, the nation’s largest hotel owners association, effective May 16, 2022. Blake will succeed Ken Greene, who served in the role for a short time in 2021 and part of 2022. Blake has been an attorney for more than 25 years and most recently was a partner with Connor, Fletcher, and Hedenkamp LLP in Irvine, California. She brings decades of experience in the fields of law, government, business, and academia to AAHOA.
U.S. Travel Announces 2023 National Chair Succession Plan
U.S. Travel Association National Chair Christine Duffy announced today the nomination of Christopher J. Nassetta, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hilton, as the association’s next national chair, which would become effective in February 2023 following the conclusion of Duffy’s term as chair.
Hilton Named #2 Best Company to Work For in the U.S.
As the hospitality industry emerges from one of the most challenging times in its history and the world returns to travel, Hilton has once again been recognized for its outstanding – and resilient – workplace culture. Great Place to Work (GPTW) and Fortune named Hilton #2 on the 2022 Best Companies to Work For list in the U.S. As in previous years, Hilton is the highest ranked hospitality company to appear on the list.
Diamondrock Hospitality Announces Resignation of Chief Operating Officer Thomas Healy
DiamondRock Hospitality Company (the "Company") (NYSE: DRH) today announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Thomas G. Healy is resigning from his position, effective April 15, 2022, to pursue new opportunities. Mr. Healy's responsibilities for overseeing asset management and redevelopment projects will be transitioned to Mark W. Brugger, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Announces New Addition to Americas Leadership Team
IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] today announces that Joel Eisemann, Chief Development Officer, Americas, will be retiring from IHG Hotels & Resorts in June. Julienne Smith, currently Senior Vice President, Development – Luxury & Upscale, and Development & Owner Support, has been appointed as Eisemann’s successor and will join the Americas regional leadership team.
The Castell Project, Inc. Releases “Black Representation in Hospitality Industry Leadership 2022” Report
-Officials of Castell Project, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the careers of women professionals in the hospitality industry, today released the “Black Representation in Hospitality Leadership 2022” report.
Sunstone Hotel Investors Board of Directors Announces Senior Management Appointments
Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (the "Company" or "Sunstone") (NYSE: SHO), the owner of Long-Term Relevant Real Estate® in the hospitality sector, today announced that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has appointed Bryan Giglia, current Chief Financial Officer, as the Company's Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
Cambria Hotels Celebrates Female Leaders In Hospitality & Wine With Education & Events Throughout Women's History Month
In observance of International Women's Day, Cambria Hotels, an upscale brand franchised by Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), announced the official launch of #CheersToHer – a month-long initiative that celebrates and raises awareness of women in hospitality and wine during Women's History Month.
Leisure and Hospitality Still Biggest Unemployment Factor in New Jobs Report
U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ February employment report, which confirms that 73% of the jobs lost are in Leisure & Hospitality (L&H):
A ‘Global Hospitality’ Evolution: UH Hilton College Changes Name
The University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management has changed its name to the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership.
The Marcus Corporation Announces Douglas A. Neis to Retire
The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS) today announced that executive vice president and chief financial officer Douglas A. Neis will retire May 15, 2022, after 36 years of service. As part of this planned transition, Chad Paris, current corporate controller and treasurer of The Marcus Corporation, will be promoted to chief financial officer upon Neis’s retirement. Neis will serve as an advisor to the company following the transition.
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Partners with Talkspace to Provide Licensed Therapy to Guests and Employees
Today, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announced a partnership with leading online behavioral health company, Talkspace, rolling out mental health services to its guests and to 4,000+ employees across the country. The KimptonxTalkspace partnership is the first of its kind to bring meaningful and accessible mental health support to hospitality employees, who have been front line workers throughout the pandemic, as well as to travelers managing everyday stresses on the road.
Forbes Magazine Recognizes Hard Rock® as One of America’s Best Large Employers Across Travel, Leisure and Entertainment for 2022
Hard Rock International has been named by Forbes as one of America’s Best Large Employers for 2022, earning a ranking among other prestigious companies in the “Travel & Leisure” industry – which spans hotels, resorts, restaurants and entertainment entities. This is the sixth time the brand has been recognized with this honor since 2015, and comes on the heels of Hard Rock ranking first in its category last year.
FIU launches hospitality course to elevate diversity in the C-suite
As part of a new initiative to create a pathway for talented Black and Hispanic hospitality management students to seek positions in executive leadership or professorships in hospitality management programs, Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management is launching its first-ever diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) academic course. Senior Seminar Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, a for-credit course offered this spring, examines the challenges and paths to success for Black and Hispanics in the hospitality industry. Issues that are key to the advancement and development of Blacks and Hispanics are addressed by the guest speakers and include topics such as leadership, stereotypes, biases, microaggressions and accessibility."The world's leading hospitality companies and programs must do better to racially diversify leadership in the C-Suite, where Black men and women represent just 0.1 percent of all industry CEOs and presidents," said Brian Barker, FIU Hospitality DEI-endowed professor. "It's imperative that hospitality programs start the process and work together with major hospitality companies to level the playing field and ensure pathways to success."This course is part of an ongoing commitment to address gaps in underrepresentation and inequity across the hospitality industry. One in five people working in the hospitality industry, specifically the hotel business, are Black, yet just 1.6 percent of hospitality industry executives are Black, according to a review of over 800 hospitality companies by the Castell Project.Last month, FIU’s top 10 U.S. public hospitality program and Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer's)—the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol—announced a groundbreaking alliance focused on DEI. The alliance's focus includes a broad range of opportunities in addition to educational programming, such as academic research, recruiting, mentoring, career pathing, scholarships, employee training/micro-credentialing and other partnerships. “FIU has the most diverse hospitality school in the United States, with 74 countries represented in its student body and graduating more Black and Hispanic undergraduate students than any other school," said Michael Cheng, dean of the Chaplin School. "This course is the start to a more inclusive future in the hospitality industry for our students and the industry as a whole."
Investing in Training Hotel Employees
Given the challenges U.S. hotels are having attracting and retaining employees, the need to invest in employee training is as great as it has ever been. Unfortunately, training expenditures, like all operating expenses, have been subject to major cuts in response to the extremely reduced levels of revenue incurred during 2020 and 2021.
By Robert Mandelbaum, Director of Research Information Services, CBRE Hotels
Hotel Industry Foundation Leads Effort to Address Labor Shortage With National Ad Campaign
As the nationwide labor shortage continues to make headlines, the American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation (AHLAF) is launching a new, nationwide ad campaign to help fill the tens of thousands of open jobs across the country. This multi-year effort – the first of its kind for the Foundation – aims to attract job seekers and help them discover the multitude of career pathways, competitive wages, benefits and perks the industry offers, while ushering a new, diverse talent pool to the hospitality arena.
Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel Partners with Bear Robotics to Hire its First Ever Full-Time Robot Employee, Betty Bot
Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport is excited to announce the hire of their first ever full-time robot employee, Betty Bot. Today, Betty joins the team as a busser at the newly opened hotel’s restaurant Radiant166, where she will help to deliver a quality guest experience.
President & CEO Ken Greene to Depart AAHOA
AAHOA today announced that President & CEO Ken Greene will leave the organization in February to pursue another opportunity. The AAHOA Board of Directors will immediately begin its search for his replacement.
AHLA Announces 2022 Officers, Board, Executive Committee; Launches New Strategic Plan
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today announced its 2022 Officers, Board of Directors and Executive Committee, which includes top leaders representing all segments of the hospitality industry at a pivotal time for the industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Coming on the heels of record membership and engagement over the past two years, AHLA is launching a new strategic plan to guide the future of the association.