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TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA led in meetings and events growth for the top 25 markets in February with a 20 percent year-over-year increase, according to Knowland. Denver and Boston came in second and third, respectively, while National Associations and Technology groups led in four of the top five markets. Overall, year-over-year event volume growth for the industry reached 5.3 percent, the report said. Meetings in the top 25 markets used an average space of 3,507 square feet, compared to 2,890 square feet in secondary markets. The top 25 markets had an average of 124 attendees, while secondary markets averaged 118 attendees. Additional insights into the key industry drivers for the top 25 markets with the highest meeting volumes include: Tampa-St. Petersburg (up 20 percent): national association, healthcare, charity/non-profit/social services, technology and wedding. Denver (up 7 percent): technology, national association, education, healthcare and construction. Boston (up 15 percent): education, healthcare, technology, training/education and travel.

CALIFORNIA-BASED HOTELIER Sunil "Sunny" Tolani has been named a top entrepreneur by Yahoo Finance. Tolani's the Prince Organization was named one of the fastest growing private companies in Orange County, California, by the Orange County Business Journal. In the Yahoo listing, Tolani is recognized not only for his work operating multiple hotels but also charity work, youth empowerment and education. It also mentions the organization's receipt of several honors and awards, including the 2016 Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence and, more recently, the Nelson Mandela Leadership Award from the Non Resident Indian Welfare Society. "Sunil Tolani is a self-made man, highly respected and publicly admired worldwide Indian American CEO, social entrepreneur, philanthropist and humanitarian," the Yahoo article said. "[The Prince Organization is] regularly commended by various third-party organizations as one of the best and top places to work. Prince has also been named the fastest growing private companies and top minority-owned organization three times in a row."

Before you plan for visiting any city or country in Europe, you should be aware of the total number of airports there in existence. Whenever we think about the airports, it is all about excitement, top-notch security, immigration, and customs as well as other mixed feelings. Whether we are boarding a flight to any city or come to see-off to our loved ones, we spend a couple of minutes and experience a range of activities there. From shopping or eating to taking a nap or just strolling around, we always have memorable experiences. In this ultimate guide to Europes busiest airport and top airports that will help you to know about their facilities, convenience, and ambiance. Check out this guide before you plan to visit any city or country in Europe.

More and more top luxury hotels now accept cryptos for rooms and hotel services. Other travel-related sites were already accepting cryptocurrencies before luxury hotels jumped on the bandwagon. The primary reason that travelers use cryptos is because of the favorable conversion rates that save hundreds of dollars over using credit cards. The cards are just as convenient to use because they're totally digital-based. FIVE OF THE TOP LUXURY HOTELS THAT ACCEPT CRYPTOS Among the benefits, using cryptos tends to be less expensive than other methods of payment. Five of the top luxury hotels that accept cryptos include the following properties. 1. CHEDI ANDERMATT, SWITZERLAND 2. SRI PANWA PHUKET 3. SANDMAN HOTELS OF CANADA AND THE U.K. 4. CASUAL HOTELES OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL 5. PAVILIONS HOTELS & RESORT GLOBAL TRAVEL WITH UTMOST CONVENIENCE Bitcoin ranks as the most popular digital currency. The innovative payment method uses decentralized currency for efficiency, transparency and security.

U.S. HOTEL LEISURE travel revenue is projected to rise 14 percent this year over pre-pandemic levels and business travel revenue is expected to be within 1 percent of 2019 range, according to a report by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and Kalibri Labs. However, these projections are not adjusted for inflation, and real hotel revenue recovery may take many years, a statement said. Among the top 50 U.S. markets, 80 percent are projected to see hotel leisure travel revenue exceed 2019 levels, but just 40 percent are expected reach that milestone for business travel revenue. Many urban markets are yet to recover due to their dependence on business from events and group meetings, the report said. All markets in the top 10 are likely to report increase in leisure travel revenue except New York, Washington and San Francisco. Whereas, in business travel revenue only Orlando, Las Vegas and San Diego will end up this year in green among the top 10.

DALLAS TAKES THE lead in top five U.S. hotel construction markets in the third quarter of 2023, setting a record with 189 projects and 21,840 rooms, according to Lodging Econometrics. The top markets all saw growth in new openings as well. Atlanta follows closely with 140 projects and 17,775 Rooms, while Nashville comes next with 122 projects and 16,046 rooms. Phoenix recorded 119 projects, totaling 16,455 rooms, while the Inland Empire reported 117 projects comprising 11,784 rooms, according to the third quarter United States Construction Pipeline Trend Report by LE. New York City leads with the highest number of projects under construction, totaling 46, and 8,386 rooms at the close of the third quarter, LE said. Phoenix follows with 26 projects and 5,353 rooms, followed closely by Atlanta with 26 projects and 4,354 rooms. Dallas trails with 25 projects and 3,178 rooms, and the Inland Empire with 23 projects and 2,386 rooms.

MIT SHAH-LED NOBLE Investment Group topped the "2023 Best Places to Work in Money Management" awards by the investment news portal Pensions & Investments. The selection process involved a thorough evaluation of workplace policies, practices, and employee feedback, with combined insights playing a key role in identifying top companies in the industry, Noble said in a statement. Shah, Noble's founder and CEO, expressed honor in being named to the list. "We take pride in the ongoing recognition of Noble's culture, emphasizing excellence, inclusivity, and professional growth," Shah said. "Our team, our greatest strength, shares a dedication to fostering an environment that values and supports one another, as reflected in this honor." "As their employees attest, companies on this year's Best Places to Work list showcase a commitment to cultivating a robust workplace culture," said P&I Executive Editor Julie Tatge. "Even amid challenges like volatile markets and ongoing pandemic stress, employees noted strong support from their managers, empowering them to perform at their best."

AS THE LABOR shortage continues, hotels are offering more incentives to attract new employees, according to a survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. They include higher wages, more benefits and greater scheduling flexibility. AHLA's Front Desk Feedback survey of more than 500 hoteliers, conducted Jan. 10 to 17, found that 79 percent of responding hotels were experiencing staffing shortages. Also, 71 percent of respondents are increasing wages, 64 percent are offering greater flexibility with hours and 33 percent are expanding benefits. Despite that, 81 percent said they are still unable to fill open positions. Also, 79 percent of respondents are experiencing a staffing shortage, severely so for 22 percent. The most critical staffing need is housekeeping, with 43 percent ranking it as their top hiring need. At the same time, in September, 87 percent of respondents said they were short staffed, 36 percent severely, with 43 percent ranking housekeeping as their top hiring need at the time. Respondents are attempting to fill an average of seven positions per property, down from 10 vacancies per property in September. "Recruiting enough workers continues to be the top challenge for many hoteliers, and this is leading to historic career opportunities for hotel employees," said Chip Rogers, AHLA president and CEO.

HELPED BY THE onset of spring break travel, U.S. hotels' performance bettered in the second week of March from the previous week, according to STR's latest data through 11 March. The top 25 markets were up on a weekly basis but still behind 2019 levels. Occupancy for the week ending March 11 came in at 64.7 percent up from 62.8 percent the week before, 2.8 percent more than the comparable week in 2022 and 7.5 percent below the comparable week in 2019. ADR stood at $158.20, up from $151.35 the previous week and also up 8.1 percent and 16.6 percent over the same month in 2022 and 2019, respectively. RevPAR was reported at $102.38, up from $95.06 the previous week, and an increase of 11.1 percent and 7.8 percent over the same month in 2022 and 2019. Among the top 25 markets, Washington, D.C., witnessed the highest year-over-year occupancy increase compared to 2019, up 21.8 percent to 67.6 percent. However, none of the Top 25 Markets saw an occupancy lift over 2019. Meanwhile, D.C. also registered the most substantial ADR increase at $183.86 against 2019, up 23.4 percent. D.C.'s RevPAR rate also climbed up 50.2 percent to $124.33 year-over-year. Anaheim reported the highest ADR increase for spring break week, up 51.4 percent to US$245.62 and RevPAR rose 42.2 percent to $189.81, when measuring against 2019.

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Lisa Jordan, the senior director of digital marketing at Red Roof, has been named one of the top 25 extraordinary minds in sales, marketing, revenue optimization, and distribution for 2023 by The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International. She will be recognized at a special reception in New York in February. This recognition is part of HSMAI's 21st annual compilation, acknowledging exceptional achievement and leadership in the field, Red Roof said in a statement. "We celebrate HSMAI's 2023 class of Top 25 honorees in hotel sales, marketing, revenue optimization, and distribution with great admiration," said Robert Gilbert, president and CEO of HSMAI. "Through their creativity, dedication, and impact, these professionals not only excel in their respective fields but have set benchmarks of excellence for the industry, inspiring us all."

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NOVEMBER BROUGHT A little less for U.S. hotels to be thankful for compared to the prior month, according to STR, but also saw improvements over 2019's performance. Meanwhile, with Christmas a week away, performance surpassed the comparable time period for 2019. Occupancy for November reached 57.6 percent, down from 62.9 percent in October and down 6.2 percent compared to 2019. October's occupancy was 8.8 percent lower than the same month in 2019. ADR was $128.50 for the month, lower than October's $134.78 but 2.4 percent higher than November 2019. RevPAR also was down on a month-to-month basis, $74.03 versus $84.75, but it was only down 3.9 percent from the same month in 2019 versus a 7.6 percent difference between October 2021 and October 2019. New York City had the highest occupancy for the month among STR's top 25 markets with 71.2 percent. That was still down 17.9 percent from 2019. None of the top 25 markets saw higher occupancy than 2019.

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U.S. hotel performance improved in the fourth week of April from the week before, according to STR. The top 25 markets saw improvement as well. Occupancy was 65.8 percent for the week ending April 23, up from 62 percent the week before and down 4.2 percent from 2019. ADR was $148.35 for the week, increased from $147.25 the week before and up 15.4 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $97.66 during the week, up from $91.25 the week before and rose 10.5 percent from 2019. Among STR's top 25 markets, Tampa saw the highest occupancy, up 3.4 percent to 78.1 percent and ADR, increased 38.5 percent to $203.40, over 2019. Minneapolis experienced the largest occupancy decrease, dipped 21.1 percent to 53.8 percent, from 2019.

HOTELS ARE THE top lodging choice for holiday travelers who are certain to take trips in the next three months, according to a survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. AHLA also announced a new system for indexing bookings. The new national Hotel Booking Index Survey, conducted by Morning Consult for AHLA, revealed that 31 percent of Thanksgiving travelers plan to stay in a hotel during their trip, compared to 22 percent who planned to do so last year. The survey of 4,000 adults, conducted between Oct. 14 to 16, said that 28 percent of Christmas travelers plan to stay in a hotel during their trip, compared to 23 percent in 2021. As many as 54 percent of those who are certain to travel for leisure in the next three months plan to stay in a hotel.

DALLAS LEADS THE U.S. hotel construction pipeline for the fourth consecutive quarter, according to Lodging Econometrics. Among brands, Marriott International led the pipeline. Dallas had a record 173 projects with 20,707 rooms in the second quarter of this year, followed by Atlanta with 140 projects containing 18,131 rooms, Los Angeles with 124 projects with 20,365 rooms, New York, with 113 projects with 19,238 rooms and Phoenix with 108 projects containing 14,964 rooms, Marriott had 1,355 projects with 167,034 rooms, up 4 percent by projects year-over-year, tops the pipeline during the period. The Q2 2022 U.S. Construction Pipeline Trend Report said that major markets and popular tourist destinations in the U.S. reported highest occupancy rates since the pandemic began in early 2020 in the second quarter mainly due to robust leisure travel, group, and international travel. New York City with 78 projects with 13,063 rooms, Atlanta with 25 projects containing 3,905 rooms, Dallas with 25 projects with 3,725 rooms, Phoenix with 23 projects with 4,955 rooms and Los Angeles with 22 projects with 3,606 rooms are the top five markets with the most projects under construction during the end of June. They account for 22 percent of rooms under construction in the U.S.

THE U.S. HOTEL construction pipeline grew 9 percent by both projects and rooms year-over-year, according to the latest U.S. Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics. It stood at 5,545 projects with 658,207 rooms at the close of the first quarter of 2023. Meanwhile, the hotel construction pipeline in the top 25 markets in the U.S. also registered year-over-year growth in the first quarter. Dallas had a record 184 projects with 21,810 rooms at the close of the first quarter, followed by Atlanta with 144 projects containing 18,242 rooms, Los Angeles tally stood at 118 projects with 19,066 rooms, Phoenix with 117 projects with 16,100 rooms and Nashville had 115 projects containing 15, 354 rooms, LE report revealed. In another report, LE analysts also detailed the leading franchise companies and their brands in the construction pipeline at the close of the first quarter. Marriott International tops the charts with 1,499 projects containing 181,377 rooms, followed closely by Hilton Worldwide, with a record-high count of 1,436 projects with 161,359 rooms, and then InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) with 809 projects containing 80,679 rooms. Combined, these three franchise companies comprise 68 percent of the projects in the total U.S. pipeline, LE said.

U.S. HOTEL REVENUE and profitability saw a rise in October, propelled by increased group demand across the top 25 markets, according to CoStar's October 2023 Profit & Loss data. Meanwhile, the U.S. hospitality industry also witnessed its largest year-over-year increases in GOPPAR and TRevPAR since March 2023. In October, GOPPAR reached $97.45, marking a 3.7 percent increase from the same month in 2022. TRevPAR stood at $240.74, indicating a 4 percent increase, whereas EBITDA PAR amounted to $69.60, down 1.2 percent from September 2022. Labor costs notably rose to $74.48, reflecting a 5.9 percent increase. "The top 25 markets have demonstrated an 11 percent year-to-date increase in GOPPAR, surpassing a 14 percent rise in labor costs," said Audrey Kallman, research analyst at STR. "This double-digit GOPPAR growth is over 10 times the level observed in all other markets. New York City, a prominent business-centric market, spearheaded growth in the metric across major markets both on a year-to-date and monthly basis."