How The Biden Administration Could Enforce Labor Laws
As President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office in January, the U.S. hotel industry can prepare for the likely changes to come under his administration.
News
Hotel Workers’ Union Analysis Reveals Omni Hotels Took Over $76 Million of Paycheck Protection Program Funds But Failed to Rehire Workers
A new analysis by UNITE HERE, the hospitality workers' union, reveals that billionaire-owned Omni Hotels received over $76 million of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds, but did not rehire workers at several hotels. The disclosure was included in a letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) urging an investigation into how one of the PPP's largest beneficiaries failed to fulfill Congress's intent with the pandemic program.
Choice Hotels Continues Focus On Increasing Diversity Across Hospitality Industry By Creating One-Of-A-Kind "Choice Hotels Owners African American Alliance"
Part of the company's longstanding commitment to diversity, Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) announces the creation of the Choice Hotels Owners African American Alliance (CHOAAA). As the hotel industry's only franchisee-focused group dedicated to Black and African American hoteliers, CHOAAA will provide ongoing representation, support and advocacy for these underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Corporate Governance Study: Lodging Boards 2020
The hotel/travel industry has been particularly hard hit by COVID. Many of the industry's venerable brands have had to do the unthinkable, furlough or layoff significant percentages of their workforce. Many executives and even board directors have taken pay cuts during this health crisis. We wonder how this pandemic will impact corporate governance and the tough decisions facing public hotel/travel companies. We have been studying governance practices in the industry for nearly two decades and we have seen huge strides in the quality of board practices. Our study this year examined 56 public lodging companies across five critical areas of corporate governance:
By Keith Kefgen and Terry Donovan
US hotel employment drops by 365,000 over four weeks
Despite TSA-reported air traffic numbers that reached pandemic records, hotel worker unemployment took a big hit after the Thanksgiving holiday, labor management data form Hotel Effectiveness shows.
Dedman School of Hospitality becomes FSU’s newest college
The official renaming of the Dedman College of Hospitality at Florida State University from being the Dedman School of Hospitality marked a milestone for the college on Nov. 20.
Analysis: Leisure & Hospitality Unemployment Double the National Average
The latest unemployment figures prepared for the U.S. Travel Association by Tourism Economics paint a dire picture: the travel-dependent Leisure & Hospitality industry is suffering from a 15% unemployment rate—nearly double the national level.
STR’s SHARE Center crowns winners of Student Market Study Competition
STR's SHARE Center crowned an undergraduate team from Virginia Tech University and a graduate team from the University of New Orleans as the winners of the STR Student Market Study Competition held virtually during 21-22 November 2020.
Starship Autonomous Food Delivery Robots Deployed at University of Houston
A fleet of 30 Starship autonomous delivery robots has been deployed at the University of Houston, home to over 53,000 students, faculty and staff. In partnership with Chartwells Higher Education, UH is the first institution of higher education in the state of Texas to offer robotic food deliveries on campus. The recipient can even track the delivery — made to a building's nearest outdoor entrance — in real time.
U.S. looks set to lose 9.2 million jobs in 2020 due to COVID-19 and travel restrictions, says WTTC
A staggering 9.2 million jobs could be lost in the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector in 2020 if barriers to global travel remain in place, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) revealed.
Study: COVID-19 Reversing Diversity Progress In Hospitality Industry
COVID-19 MAY HAVE reversed some of the progress made in diversity and inclusion in the hospitality, travel and leisure sector, according to a new study from the MBS Group. The report also found that senior women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds will be impacted more than their male and white counterparts.
Cornell Announces Dates and Keynote Speakers for its 2021 HR in Hospitality Conference
We are pleased to announce our 2021 HR in Hospitality Conference Keynote Speakers. Joining us will be Gerry Fernandez, president and founder of the Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance, and Kevin Jacobs, executive vice president and CEO of Hilton Worldwide.As President and Founder of MFHA - an educational non- profit organization that makes the business case for developing cultural intelligence in the workplace- Gerry Fernandez has spent decades educating and advocating for the business benefits of cultural diversity and inclusion in the foodservice & hospitality industry. An engagingly energetic Speaker who practices "straight talk", he travels across the US and internationally, bringing authentic perspective on building Cultural Intelligence that raises the topline, improves the bottom-line, and builds brands' cultural authenticity.
Traveler Experience & Customer Leadership Team Appointments
CWT, the Business-to-Business-for-Employees (B2B4E) travel management platform, today announces the strategic aims and leadership team for its newly created Traveler Experience & Customer business unit.
RoomIt & Commercial Leadership Team Appointments
CWT, the Business-to-Business-for-Employees (B2B4E) travel management platform, today announces the strategic aims and leadership team for its newly created RoomIt & Commercial business unit.
From Ritz-Carlton to Healthcare: Hotels Bridging Healthcare (H2H) for New Career Opportunities
As more health care facilities grow to become "medical campuses" and medical meccas for care, they emulate hotels in their quality and delivery of health and wellness (H2H) services. Many build hotels or have partner hotels for medical guests and tourists on their health campuses. An innovative approach for blending hospitality and health care can be found in Orlando, where the RosenCare model could boost lodging revenue by using medical travel to the United States. In fact, in medical centers and hospitals, after the procedure (surgery or other treatment), approximately 75% of the services provided to patients are hospitality/hotel-related services (H2H) including dining, environmental, transportation, front desk, educational, and entertainment services (Figure 1).
By Fred DeMicco, Executive Director (2019-2024), Full Professor in the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, the W.A. Franke College of Business, Northern Arizona University
Radisson Hotel Group Announces Its New Americas Development Team
Radisson Hotel Group today announced the appointment of Bill Hall and Jason Yarbrough as senior vice presidents of development for the Americas. Hall will lead a team of franchise sales and development directors covering the western U.S., and Yarbrough will lead a team of franchise sales and development directors covering the eastern U.S.
MGM Resorts set to lay off 18,000 employees nationwide
MGM Resorts International will lay off 18,000 furloughed employees nationwide on Monday, company officials said.
MGM Resorts Named To The Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index, Recognized For Creating Inclusive Workspaces
The Diversity Best Practices (DBP) Inclusion Index, names MGM Resorts International as one of 98 organizations to earn a score of at least 60 percent and a place on the index. This recognition highlights MGM Resorts' work and leading practices in the following major areas such as recruitment, retention and advancement of talent, corporate culture, workforce demographics and transparency.
Estate Of Kirk Kerkorian Donates Additional $2 Million To The MGM Resorts Foundation For MGM Employee Emergency Grant Fund
MGM Resorts International Founder, Kirk Kerkorian's estate announced a donation of an additional $2 million to The MGM Resorts Foundation to support MGM employees impacted economically by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Study: 40% of Excess Unemployment Is in Leisure & Hospitality Sector
Faced with a fresh round of bleak employment data, the American travel industry is renewing its pleas for leaders in Washington to return to the negotiating table and finalize another coronavirus-related relief package—without which the prospects for an overall U.S. economic recovery look increasingly grim.