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LAS VEGAS LED meeting volume growth in June for the second consecutive month with a 22.2 percent year-over-year increase, according to Knowland. St. Louis ranked second with a 12 percent year-over-year growth and the U.S. top 25 and secondary markets saw increases in total square footage used and group sizes. The average space used for meetings in the top 25 markets was 4,127 square feet with 141 attendees, while secondary markets averaged 4,085 square feet with 132 attendees, Knowland said. Las Vegas also remained a popular meeting spot in June, with sports entertainment entering the top five industry segments due to NHL draft-related meetings, the report found. The city led the top 25 markets, averaging 8,297 square feet and 282 attendees.

AAHOA IS OFFERING a free educational webinar, "Essential Training for Hotel Owners: Managing Guest Misconduct and Ensuring Safety," on July 17. The initiative follows the death of an AAHOA member after a confrontation with a guest who was asked to leave the property, AAHOA said in a statement. The association emphasized that hoteliers should assess the risks of handling confrontational situations independently and involve law enforcement when faced with potentially volatile encounters to ensure personal safety. Hemant Mistry, a 59-year-old hotel owner from Oklahoma City, was killed last month at his property.

PRICES FOR TRAVEL goods and services decreased by 1.4 percent in June for the second consecutive month, outpacing the overall economy's 0.1 percent decline, according to the latest Consumer Price Index data from the U.S. Travel Association. The Travel Price Index indicated that lower hotel, airline, and gas prices were the primary contributors to the sector's significant price reduction. In contrast, the broader economy experienced its first monthly price decline since 2020, USTA said in a statement. "Now is the time for the travel industry to boost volume," said Geoff Freeman, USTA's president and CEO. "We've already seen travelers take advantage, with eight of the 10 busiest days in TSA's history occurring in 2024. It's essential that the industry is equipped with the right funding, resources and technology - coupled with sustained government focus - to meet an increase in demand."