The 4th of July sparks vibrant domestic travel across the U.S. Families and friends celebrate with fireworks, parades, beach outings, and barbecues. This holiday encapsulates the diverse beauty and rich culture of America, making it a prime time for exploring national parks, historical landmarks, and new cities. As Americans plan their vacation, here’s how the travel trends are shaping.
The Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration held its annual Icon & Innovators Award Reception on June 4th at The Gotham in New York City. Cornell alumnus Keith Barr ’92, IHG’s former chief executive officer, was the recipient of the 2024 Cornell Hospitality Icon of the Industry Award. Chef José Andrés and Rob Wilder, co-founders of World Central Kitchen and José Andrés Group, were the recipients of the 2024 Hospitality Innovators of the Industry Award.
Inside Out fans ready to tap into their emotions can join Joy and a few new faces (did someone say Anxiety?) for a fun-filled stay at the crew’s Headquarters, hosted by none other than Joy herself.
PRG Hospitality Group, the independent hotel brand behind award-winning destinations including Sparrows Lodge, Sands Hotel & Spa, White Water Cambria and more, today introduces its newly reimagined parent brand, Common Thread Hotels, which will replace the PRG moniker across all facets of sales, marketing, branding and corporate relations. Common Thread, the company’s new identity, has been brought to life with a new portfolio website, branding and messaging, designed to cohesively represent their vision of contemporary, design-centric boutique hospitality.
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation (Sonesta) today announced the debut of its unified loyalty program, Sonesta Travel Pass, and combined website, ushering in a new era for its six million members around the world. Following Sonesta’s acquisition of Red Lion Hotels Corporation, the updated Sonesta.com brings Sonesta’s brands, including Royal Sonesta, Sonesta Hotels & Resorts and Sonesta ES Suites, together with the Red Lion brands, including the eponymous Red Lion Hotel, Americas Best Value Inn and Signature Inn under one umbrella and into a centralized booking site.
As we prepare for the upcoming Commercial Strategy Conference (CSC), I’m excited to share insights from the newly released HSMAI Foundation report, From Solos to Symphony. The Transformational Power of ‘Commercial’. Authored by Breffni M. Noone and Chris Boyd, this report offers the first comprehensive research of how the formalization of the commercial function can revolutionize hotel performance.
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Americas is proud to introduce the 2024 Marketing and Revenue Optimization award recipients who will be celebrated during HSMAI’s Commercial Strategy Conference.
For Canadians, Fairmont is not just a hotel brand but a fixture of our nation’s history. In the decades following the country’s confederation in 1867, towns that connected the Eastern hubs of Montreal, Toronto, Quebec and Ottawa with the still-budding Western ports of Vancouver and Victoria were few and far between. It fell up Canadian Pacific – the company that would eventually sell its hotel division to Fairmont Raffles Hotels International then to Accor in 2016 – to not only build a transcontinental railway but to erect a series of what we now deem iconic hotels along the route.
California’s hotel industry is gearing up for significant changes with the introduction of two pivotal laws: California Senate Bill 644 and California Assembly Bill 537. While the former focuses on cancelation policies, the latter emphasizes pricing display transparency. In this blog, we’ll delve into the key aspects of each bill and explore their potential impact for hoteliers.
Americans and travelers around the world continue to place a high priority on summer vacations, according to the annual Summer Travel Index released today by Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform. In fact, 95 percent of respondents are planning to travel as much (51%) or more (44%) than last summer, despite some concern about economic headwinds. Whatsmore, over a quarter (26%) of Americans are planning to spend $5,000 or more on their getaways.
Cvent, an industry-leading meetings, events and hospitality technology provider, has announced that Karamo – daytime talk show host and Queer Eye culture expert – will deliver a keynote speaker address for its customer and industry conference, Cvent CONNECT. The conference will take place from June 10-13, 2024, at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas and online. Lauded for his ability to meaningfully connect with his audience, Karamo will leverage his personal stories and cultural expertise to inspire Cvent CONNECT attendees to confront challenges, embrace authenticity and transform their personal or professional trajectories.
The 46th annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference (NYU IHIIC), operated by Questex, a leading information services and event company, in partnership with the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) and its Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, will deliver unparalleled thought leadership through keynotes, general sessions, workshops and networking events. Top industry executives from CEOs of hotel brands to various investment and real estate executives will discuss the latest trends, economic influences, and projections. The NYU IHIIC will be held on June 2-4, 2024 at the Marriott Marquis in New York.
Marriott International’s presence in the Canadian market strengthened, as the company celebrated a 36 percent year over year increase in hotel-level leisure revenue in 2023. With 274 hotels currently open and 90 in the pipeline, several factors, including a dedicated focus on lifestyle, upper midscale and extended stay brands; as well as market-specific loyalty program offerings and partnerships, continue to drive the company’s success in Canada.
The Cornell University Nolan School of Hotel Administration’s Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship today announced the creation of a network and a series of events, resources, and convenings for entrepreneurial individuals and organizations throughout the hospitality industry. This network will facilitate the sharing of best practices, bridging of funding sources and investing opportunities, and identification of partnership and collaboration opportunities. It was launched with a convening of 50 extraordinary entrepreneurs and thought leaders who traveled from around the country to a one-of-a-kind Summit at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa on May 2nd and 3rd.
AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) recently hosted a Hospitality Insurance Forum with leaders in Arkansas to address the industry’s significant insurance challenges plaguing hoteliers. The forum centered on developing creative strategies to alleviate the burden of insurance premiums, facilitating greater access to insurance resources, and fostering an environment of increased accessibility.
Yesterday, Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced a partnership with ResortPass, the leading platform for booking day access to Hilton’s exceptional resort and hotel amenities, bringing curated day pass packages to participating Hilton properties across the Americas. Catering to the rapidly expanding segment of individuals seeking daytime visits to top resorts and renowned hotels in unbeatable locations, Hilton and ResortPass offer access to amenities and perks at a collection of beach resorts and urban getaways for locals and visitors alike.
At U.S. Travel’s IPW – the largest generator of international inbound travel to the United States – association President and CEO Geoff Freeman shared a vision to make travel a national priority, solve barriers to visitation growth, and become the most-visited nation in the world.
The Seminar “Enhancing Tourism Development through Innovation in Community-Based Tourism” was held within the framework of the 69th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Americas. The meeting served as a prelude to the institutional event and brought together leading players in the sector to address challenges, strategies and good practices in this tourism segment.
A severe and troubling scenario for travelers could play out at airports this summer travel season if Congress enacts an amendment by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and John Kennedy (R-LA) to the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill.
AHLA Foundation hosted nearly 1,000 attendees from across the hotel industry at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place for the annual ForWard conference this week. Over three days, industry leaders gathered to share knowledge and hear from dynamic speakers focused on celebrating, championing, and creating community for women in hospitality. This year’s conference theme, “Right the Narrative,” centered on the power of storytelling and the importance of amplifying the stories and voices of women in the hotel industry.