THE LEISURE AND hospitality sector saw some job growth in December, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' December employment report. Not enough, however, according to the U.S. Travel Association, meaning more federal aid is needed.
The sector added 53,000 jobs during the month, according to the BLS data. The overall economy added 199,000 jobs.
"Leisure and hospitality has added 2.6 million jobs in 2021, but employment in the industry is down by 1.2 million, or 7.2 percent, since February 2020," the report said. "Employment in food services and drinking places rose by 43,000 in December but is down by 653,000 since February 2020."
However, the report indicates that the recovery is uneven, said Tori Emerson Barnes, USTA's executive vice president of public affairs and policy, in a statement. December's performance was the second-worst since January 2021, she said.
"The small gains made are not enough to propel the sector toward a larger recovery, as more than 7 percent of all L&H jobs remain lost compared to just 2 percent for the rest of the U.S. economy," Barnes said. "As the spread of the omicron variant continues to impact travel, there remains a pressing need for Congress to provide additional federal relief and stabilizing policies that will enable the return of business travel, professional meetings and events, and international inbound travel."
U.S. HOTELS ADDED 1,200 jobs in April, recent government statistics showed, yet employment levels in the industry still lag significantly behind pre-pandemic
levels, according to American Hotel & Lodging Association. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also noted that there are currently about 1.92 million people employed
in hotels, representing a decrease of 193,600 compared to February 2020. The association is advocating for policy changes to address hospitality industry's labor
shortages.
AHLA urged the Department of Homeland Security to issue around 65,000 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas, as authorized by Congress in the
Further Consolidated Appropriations Act.
"Hotels are doing all they can to attract and retain workers, but the nationwide workforce shortage is preventing our industry from reaching its full
potential," said Kevin Carey, AHLA's Interim president and CEO. "AHLA members need help filling open jobs so they can maintain and expand operations. The
DHS can provide vital assistance by making available nearly 65,000 additional H-2B visas. Meanwhile, we are urging Congress to pass three important bills to
help grow our nation's workforce: the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act, the H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers Act and the Closing the Workforce Gap Act."
U.S. HOTELS ADDED 700 jobs to their payrolls in June, according to the latest government data, but the nationwide workforce shortage continues to make it
difficult for hotels to fill open positions, according to the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Total hotel employment stands at about 1.92 million,
according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is more than 196,000 fewer workers than in February 2020, reflecting a scarcity of available employees.
Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised down the total number of hotel jobs in the country, which eliminated job gains for the industry that were reported in
prior months, AHLA said in a statement.
"Halfway through 2024, the hotel industry is behind where it needs to be when it comes to hiring staff, despite near-record high wages and expanding workplace
benefits and flexibility," said Kevin Carey, AHLA's interim president and CEO. "The reason is the nationwide workforce shortage, which is preventing hoteliers
from meeting their full potential as demand for travel remains strong. Both Congress and the administration can provide relief to our members, many of whom are
small business owners, and AHLA will continue to call for action to expand the pool of available workers."
U.S. HOSPITALITY SECTOR has consistently maintained the highest quit rates by workers among all industries, consistently exceeding 4.5 percent since July
2021, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. However, the leisure and hospitality sector maintained the highest hiring rate among all industries, fluctuating
between 6 percent and nearly 19 percent.
These industries saw a loss of 837 thousand workers in September, yet 1.1 million individuals were hired into the industry during the same month.
This hiring rate exceeds the national average, which was 3.7 percent in September 2023, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said in its latest report titled Understanding
America's Labor Shortage: The Most Impacted Industries. The latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals a positive influx of individuals into
the workforce.
THE U.S. TRAVEL Association is urging Congress to implement short-term priorities to stimulate leisure and hospitality sector as 61 percent or nearly two-thirds, of all jobs still lost due to the pandemic are in this segment.
The revised job data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the past several months confirmed that 10 percent of leisure and hospitality jobs now remain lost.
"While the overall jobs report may be good news for some, the revised BLS data now confirms an even bigger revelation," said Tori Emerson Barnes, USTA executive vice
president of public affairs and policy, in a statement. "The uneven recovery of the travel sector is due in large part to the lack of inbound international travelers,
and the deep reduction in business travel and professional meetings and events. There could not be a more pressing time to support this vital contributor to the U.S.
economy and rebuild American jobs."
Australian tourism is in a strong position having recently broken records for the number of visitors entering the country. According to the latest assessment by the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) of the numbers submitted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS); for the first time there have been more than six million Australian visas issued in the duration of a year.
Stonehill CRE, the real estate arm of Stonehill, has finalized a $52 million senior loan agreement with Starpoint Properties to fund the construction of
Lotus Point Apartments, a 245-unit multifamily development in Mesa, Arizona, within the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area. The construction of this four-story
building is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2025, Stonehill said in a statement.
"This investment mirrors our sought-after strategy - a quality property with an experienced sponsor in a growing market," said Taylor Pike, senior vice president at
Stonehill CRE. "Phoenix stands as a strong job growth market due to diverse employment opportunities. Single-family home development has not kept pace, and with
rising mortgage rates, well-located multifamily projects will remain in high demand."
This 6-acre site, adjacent to a retail center and within walking distance of the metro light rail, will provide studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, along
with amenities such as a fitness center, clubhouse, co-working area, pool, and parking options, Stonehill said.
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A BIPARTISAN SOLUTION to the federal immigration issue is needed to reduce the still ongoing labor shortage for hotels, according to a survey from the American
Hotel & Lodging Association. To accomplish that, AHLA affiliate Hospitality is Working created the Workforce and Immigration Initiative that includes a targeted
advertising campaign promoting immigration reform and border security.
U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics put hotel employment down by more than 350,000 jobs compared to February 2020, AHLA said in a statement. Hotels are looking to
fill many of the jobs lost during the pandemic, including more than 105,000 hotel jobs currently open across the nation.
"Workforce shortages are severely impacting America's economy, notably the leisure and hospitality sector, which is facing historic worker shortfalls. This crisis has
contributed to high levels of inflation and restricted economic growth. Americans everywhere are feeling the impacts of these difficulties. To address the
extraordinary workforce shortages, Congress and the administration must come together and find bipartisan solutions that include incorporating more immigrants
into the American economy," said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. "The goal of the newly launched Workforce and Immigration Initiative is to highlight the
historic opportunity to take action on this critical issue. Americans are demanding our that leaders in Washington put partisan politics aside and prioritize
growing our economy and workforce, by developing an efficient and workable immigration system. The time to act is now."
If only there were a switch for stress so we can flip it whenever overwhelmed by it. As ridiculous as it may sound, it is very much possible. Although there
is a lot you have to work to get that control, you can do it with persistence.
According to recent statistics, every one in five individuals in the USA faces mental health issues. And a majority of which are related to stress, depression,
and anxiety.
Stress builds up in your daily life. It can be a petty argument with your partner or getting stuck in a traffic jam before work. There is no way that you can change
what comes your way, in this case, stress. You surely can change the way you react to it, which will make you feel much lively and better.
EXTENDED-STAY HOTEL room supply in the 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S. grew 2.5 percent in 2022 compared to 2021, its smallest increase
in several years, according to a new report from The Highland Group. The survey, which researched supply, demand, revenues and new construction of extended-stay
hotels, said the outcome in 2022 was about half the net supply gain reported in 2021.
According to the report, the lengthening hotel development timeline, fewer construction starts, disenfranchising hotels that no longer meet brand standards,
conversions to apartments and some municipalities acquiring extended-stay hotels for housing have resulted in the muted growth.
While there was a sharp decline in reported extended-stay rooms under construction last year compared to 2021, construction starts increased 6 percent over the
last 12 months. "However, they remain low compared to the pre-pandemic period, the report noted.
RevPAR growth in 2022 strongly favored ADR as opposed to occupancy gains in 2021. "Consequently, more than 40 MSAs reported lower average occupancy in 2022 than
during the previous year. However, only a dozen MSAs have not yet recovered RevPAR back to its nominal 2019 value compared to about half the MSAs last year," it
showed.
IN MARCH, THE U.S. celebrated the achievements and history of women as part of Women's History Month. In recognition of the month, some hotel companies
introduced or continued programs aimed at increasing women's role in the industry.
In line with the Women's History Month theme this year "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories," Choice Hotels International kicked off its "HERtels at Choice
Development Seminar" with nearly 40 franchise owners, general managers, and hotel associates in attendance. At the same time, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' "Women
Own the Room" initiative has signed over 30 hotels across the U.S. and Canada in the first year of its launch. Also, California hotelier and philanthropist Sunil
"Sunny" Tolani issued a special message for the month.
HERtels by Choice
Choice Hotels took the recently held Hunter Hotel Conference in Atlanta as a launch pad for its inaugural HERtels seminar. The event was held next door to the
Marriott Marquis Atlanta, Hunter's venue, and is an enhancement of Choice's HERtels program that was launched in 2021.
"While industry-wide parity is improving, with more female investors, directors, and leaders in hospitality than ever before, women entrepreneurs still face
significant economic and societal barriers when it comes to hotel ownership and development. As an industry, we owe it to the next generation of hoteliers to
change this statistic," said John Lancaster, vice president for emerging markets, franchise development and owner relationships, Choice Hotels International.
"This initiative and the invaluable resources it provides is a natural extension of our industry-leading emerging markets program and our enduring commitment to
helping growth-minded entrepreneurs further their unique ownership journey."
WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS' Women Own the Room surpassed 15 hotel openings and 50 signings in just over 24 months. The program has expanded its network to
more than 550 women, leveraging Wyndham's scale to break down barriers to hotel ownership, Wyndham said in a statement.
"For decades, the hotel industry has been complacent in allowing women to remain on the sidelines of hotel ownership and in turn, has missed out on the opportunity
to strengthen itself through greater diversity," said Galen Barrett, Wyndham's vice president for strategic franchise initiatives. "Women Own the Room and the
subsequent programs it has inspired throughout the industry are finally changing the narrative and Wyndham is proud to lead the way."
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Castell Project, although women comprise nearly 60 percent of the hospitality workforce, they
hold only one leadership position for every 10 men.
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE U.S. hospitality industry recently rejected the New York City Council's revisions to the proposed hotel licensing bill, which include
a new licensing structure, direct employment of housekeeping and maintenance staff, and a ban on subcontracting key operations. The American Hotel & Lodging
Association and the Hotel Association of New York City objected to the amendments, warning of potential closures and layoffs in the city's hotel sector.
The bill, known as the Hotel Safety Act, originally proposed by Councilwoman Julie Menin on July 18 and revised on Aug. 2, seeks to introduce staffing and
operational mandates that AHLA considers unnecessary.
"The city council's discussions regarding the Hotel Safety Act continue to exclude those who will be most affected by the legislation-hotel owners, management
companies, sub-contractors and tens of thousands of hotel workers," said Kevin Carey, AHLA's interim president and CEO. "It is imperative that all stakeholders
have a real seat at the table. If this is a matter of public safety and crime, as has been claimed by Councilwoman Menin and the bill's proponents, let's review
the facts and statistics to see what picture they paint."
U.S. HOTELS ADDED 700 jobs in May, highlighting persistent workforce shortages, with 191,500 vacancies since early 2020, according to the American
Hotel & Lodging Association. However, a survey by AHLA of hoteliers in May found 76 percent of respondents are experiencing a staffing shortage and 13 percent
reported they are severely understaffed, meaning the shortage is affecting their hotel's ability to operate.
By comparison, in a January survey, 67 percent said they were experiencing a staffing shortage, and 72 percent said they were unable to fill open positions.
Total hotel employment is now approximately 1.92 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is still 191,500 short of pre-pandemic levels in
February 2020, highlighting the ongoing struggle to find workers.
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.
The entire aviation industry is going through a phase when the economic conditions demand a steep increase in the price of tickets. As per the statistical surveys, the price of jet fuel has increased by 60 per cent in the last year. Needless to say, airlines have failed to provide lowest airfare to passengers due to an increase in fees for checking-in luggage, both regulatory as well as surcharge, meals and other services.
People in Delhi are kind-hearted, tuned in to new technology and customs. The immigration percentage of Delhi is literally very high as people from neighboring states throng this place for better livelihood.
As cheap air tickets domestic and international become more available for travellers, the number of people opting for air travelling has increased several manifolds in the last decade or so. Statistics have revealed that flying is the safest mode of transport by quite some margin.