Group items matching

in title, tags, annotations or url

THE U.S. HOTEL construction pipeline continued its growth at THE end of THE second quarter of 2022 as travel returned, according to Lodging Econometrics. THE upscale and upper-midscale segments continue to lead THE pipeline with 68 percent of projects. THE total U.S. construction pipeline stands at 5,220 projects with 621,268 rooms during THE second quarter. That is up 9 percent by projects and 4 percent by rooms, over THE same period last year, according to THE U.S. Construction Pipeline Trend Report from LE. THEre were 965 projects with 130,914 rooms currently under construction in THE second quarter, down 17 percent by projects and 18 percent by rooms, year-over-year. As many as 2,009 projects with 232,163 rooms are scheduled to start in THE next 12 months, up 9 percent by projects and 9 percent by rooms, over last year. According to THE report, projects and rooms in early planning reached a record high at 2,246 projects with 258,191 rooms, up 26 percent by projects and 15 percent by rooms, compared to last year. "Improved demand and increased consumer sentiment and spending has led to record-high rates of travel and much improved hotel revenue over THE last few months. THE outlook for THE industry is positive and growth is expected to continue throughout 2022, albeit at a decelerated pace than initially expected. THE industry's ability to adapt to THE constantly changing economic environment provides a positive outlook for hotel performance, and its eventual full recovery," THE report said.

IT'S BEEN A tough year for women in the hospitality industry, but progress has been made as more female executives took leadership roles, according to an annual report from the Castell Project, a nonprofit focused on promoting women in the industry. the next challenge, according to the project, is getting more women in hospitality education programs. Castell Project founder and chairwoman Peggy Berg released the 2022 Women in Hospitality Industry Leadership report during the Americas Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles earlier this week. During the conference, Berg received the ISHC Pioneer Award for her work in the industry, and she told a story during her acceptance speech that encapsulates where women are coming from in the industry. When she was in college, Berg said, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act lifted the restrictions on women working. So, she walked into a large firm looking for a job. "the partner in charge of the office, Jerry, he took one look at me and said 'Well, this will never work.' And then because of the EEOA, he said, 'I will give you a job if you promise not to get pregnant for two years,'" Berg said. "Jerry thought this was impossible. I thought Jerry didn't understand the law. Mostly I thought, if that's the barrier to success, the best vertical I have to cross, I can run this company. And a few years later, 140 men found themselves with a female partner."

CHARLOTTE-BASED MAYA HOTELS has acquired two Hampton Inn hotels in North Carolina and South Carolina. The two Hampton Inns boast a total of 210 guest rooms and are Maya Hotels' second and third acquisitions over The last six months, The company said in a statement. The hotels are The 100-room Hampton Inn & Suites Charlotte-Arrowood Road in Charlotte, North Carolina, and The 110-room Hampton Inn Columbia NorTheast-Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. Maya Hotels, led by JD Deva as CEO, acquired The hotels on March 11. The Charlotte property is near Carowinds Amusement Park and Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The Columbia hotel is near U.S. Army Fort Jackson The University of South Carolina and downtown Columbia. Amenities at each hotel include outdoor pools, fitness centers, meeting spaces, and business centers. "We are excited to acquire These two top-branded assets at a discount to replacement cost," said Krishna Deva, vice president of Maya Hotels. "Charlotte and Columbia have historically been top markets for us, and we are thrilled to grow our presence in These two cities with such a strong brand affiliation." The acquired hotels complement Maya Hotels' existing footprint and will increase The current operating synergies The company has across North Carolina and South Carolina regions. The hotels will be renovated and managed by Maya Hotels. "We are so happy to continue growing our relationships with The Charlotte and Columbia communities, as well as with Hilton. We are also thankful to each of our investors and banking partners," said Deva. "The success of this transaction is a testament to our track record in The hospitality industry and our ability to adapt quickly in a rapidly changing lending environment. We look forward to bringing out The full potential of each of These properties with our hands-on management approach and The completion of major renovations at each property."

REFLECTING THE NORMAL ebb and flow of spring break season, U.S. hotel performance has decreased in THE fourth week of March from THE week before, according to STR. Chicago and Phoenix saw rises in occupancy. Occupancy was 64.9 percent for THE week ending March 25, down from 67.6 percent THE week before and 0.6 percent down than THE comparable week in 2002 and 6.3 percent down THE comparable week in 2019. ADR was $158.61, down from $167.04 THE week before, up 4.7 percent from last year and up 19.5 percent from 2019. RevPAR stood at $102.98 in THE last week, down from $112.89 THE week before and increased 4.1 percent and 12 percent against THE same month in 2022 and 2019. Among THE top 25 markets, Chicago saw THE highest year-over-year increase in occupancy in THE fourth week of THE month, up 12.2 percent to 63.4 percent, while Phoenix witnessed THE only occupancy lift over 2019, up 3.1 percent to 81.5 percent. Washington, D.C., reported THE most substantial ADR, up 20.9 percent to $194.18, while RevPAR increased 33.4 percent to $139.83 year-over-year. Las Vegas reported THE highest growths in THE measuring of ADR, up 42.7 percent to $187.21, and RevPAR, which increased 31.5 percent to $148.86 percent, against 2019.

THE U.S. SENATE voted to block THE National Labor Relations Board's final definition of joint-employer status, following up on a similar bill passed by THE House. President Biden is expected to veto THE bill, but opponents of THE NLRB joint employer rule, such as THE American Hotel & Lodging Association, claim THE Senate's resolution was a "win for hoteliers." After THE House passed its Congressional Review Act against THE NLRB rule in January, THE U.S. District Court for THE Eastern District of Texas also issued an order blocking THE NLRB rule. AHLA supported both efforts to block THE NLRB rule, calling THE current joint employer definition a threat to THE hotel franchise model. "Today's bipartisan Senate vote is a win for hoteliers and small business owners everywhere, and shows THE rule is out of step with Congress, THE courts, and America's job creators. Lawmakers from both parties in THE House and Senate realize THE administration's joint-employer rule would acutely suppress job creation for hoteliers and oTHEr businesses, and THErefore it needs to be abandoned," said Kevin Carey, AHLA Interim president and CEO.

The Chatwal New York, a luxury hotel in Manhattan owned by The Dream Hotel Group, has reopened after temporarily closing due to The COVID-19 pandemic. The reopening comes in The wake of Broadway's return to production and The reopening of The U.S. border to vaccinated international travelers. Dream Hotel Group is led by chairman and founder Sant Singh Chatwal and Jay Stein as CEO. The 76-room hotel includes 29 suites, 14 of which have private, landscaped terraces. It also has specialty suites, such as The Theater inspired Chatwal Suite with its 500-square-foot terrace. Also, The terrace of The Garden Suite includes fountains, sculptures and heat lamps and The Library Suite includes a curated book collection. "The Chatwal, New York's reopening marks The return of luxury boutique hospitality in The heart of Midtown Manhattan," said Ashish Verma, senior vice president for Dream Hotel Group's luxury division and general manager of The Chatwal New York. "Our team is committed to our guests' safety and satisfaction with superior services in a renewed world."

The GG2 Power List profiles Britain's 101 most influential Asians, providing a snapshot of Asian power and influence in Britain today. Each year, The list undergoes an extensive refresh and our panel of senior editors and experts face an arduous challenge in whittling down our long list to 101. The list celebrates The extraordinary talent that exists in The British Asian community: an eclectic mix of talent across The nation. It features exclusive interviews with pioneers across The arts, media, business science, technology and The public sector. As The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "The GG2 Power List is about The best and most talented people in The country, who just happen to be Asians". The list serves to inspire and nurture The next generation of leaders and achievers. The GG2 Power List is launched in October at The GG2 Leadership Awards. Along with The Leadership Awards and Diversity Conference, we celebrate The success of ethnic communities in Britain and showcase how a more inclusive society can unleash talent.

THE HOTEL PROPERTY types most associated with business travel, upper upscale hotels, are well represented in THE U.S. hotel construction pipeline. THE volume of projects in THE segment points to confidence in THE future of business travel, according to STR. "Upper upscale saw THE slowest recovery, but a steady climb in performance and THE business travel indicators have supported developer confidence in THE segment," said Isaac Collazo, STR's vice president for analytics. "THE more than 23,000 upper upscale rooms in construction right now represent 3.4 percent of THE segment's existing supply. That is well above THE long-term growth average, up 2 percent in THE U.S." According to STR, a total 154,284 rooms were under construction in March, down 0.5 percent compared to THE same period last year. As many as 239,995 rooms are in THE final planning state, an increase of 34.6 percent over last year. STR pipeline data showed that 232,517 rooms are under planning, a decline of 21.6 percent compared to March 2022. After three consecutive month-over-month increases, THE overall number of U.S. rooms in construction fell slightly in March, which aligns with patterns in previous years. Among THE chain scale segments, luxury shows THE highest number of rooms as a percentage of existing supply. Luxury segment reports THE highest increase in hotel construction in March, up 5.2 percent containing 7,136 rooms, followed by upscale, up 4.1 percent with 36,089 rooms and upper midscale, increased 3.7 percent containing 43,470 rooms.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT of Homeland Security will make available more than 64,000 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year 2023. THE extra visas will help THE hotel and travel industries meet continuing labor shortages, according to THE U.S. Travel Association. DHS also will issue its normal allotment of 66,000 H-2B visas as well as THE 64,716 extra visas. THE visas, which permit employers to temporarily hire noncitizens to perform certain labor in THE U.S., became available at THE beginning of October. Also, THE agency created THE new Worker Protection Taskforce to make sure THE H-2B visa workers are not exploited. "THE Department of Homeland Security is moving with unprecedented speed to meet THE needs of American businesses," said Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of Homeland Security. "At a time of record job growth, this full year allocation at THE very outset of THE fiscal year will ensure that businesses can plan for THEir peak season labor needs. We also will bolster worker protections to safeguard THE integrity of THE program from unscrupulous employers who would seek to exploit THE workers by paying substandard wages and maintaining unsafe work conditions."

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL has completed its acquisition of Radisson Hotels Americas for $675 million. The transaction includes Radisson's franchise business, operations and intellectual property. The merger, which was announced in June, will add Radisson's nine brands to Choice, bringing it to 624 hotels. "With The close of this transaction, Choice Hotels International has added approximately 67,000 rooms, expanding its presence in The higher revenue upper upscale and upscale full-service segments, and bolstering its core upper-midscale hospitality segment, particularly in The West Coast and Midwest of The U.S.," The company said in a statement. As part of The transaction, which covers properties in Canada, Latin America and The Caribbean as well as The U.S., Choice will independently own and control The brands in The Americas and will work with Radisson to drive The growth, continuity and success of The brands, according to a joint press release from The companies. Choice's board of directors unanimously approved The transaction, and it was expected to close in The second half of 2022. It was funded by cash on hand and revolver borrowings and includes 10 Radisson Blu hotels, 130 Radisson hotels, 9 Radisson Individuals, 1 Park Plaza hotel, 4 Radisson RED hotels, 453 Country Inn & Suites by Radisson and 17 Park Inn by Radisson hotels, as well as The recently launched Radisson Inn & Suites and Radisson Collection brands.

THE BAIRD/STR Hotel Stock Index fell 9.1 percent in September, according to STR. Experts said that THEy have concerns regarding recession and its impact on THE sector. THE index witnessed a sharp drop of 20.6 percent year-to-date through THE first nine months of 2022. In September, THE Index surpassed both THE S&P 500, down 9.3 percent, and THE MSCI US REIT Index, which fell 12.8 percent. THE hotel brand sub-index decreased 7.7 percent from August to 8,268, while THE Hotel REIT sub-index dropped 13.5 percent to 989. "September was a risk-off month for THE broader market, and hotel stocks were down sharply as well. However, THE Hotel REITs were modest underperformers only, while THE Global Hotel Brands were slight relative outperformers," said Michael Bellisario, senior hotel research analyst and director at Baird. "Broader macroeconomic concerns continue to dominate investor sentiment and positioning, but underlying hotel fundamentals held steady throughout THE month, which relatively helped THE hotel stocks during a volatile time for THE capital markets. Investors continue to ask about recession scenarios and downside analyses for our coverage list, which suggests a lot of THE bad news is being priced into THE stocks, particularly THE Hotel REITs, in our opinion."

THE AMERICAN HOTEL & Lodging Association and THE Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Americas have formed a partnership that will more closely align THE two associations to benefit THEir respective members and advance THE hospitality industry, AHLA said in a statement. Also, AHLA and its technology committee, HTNG, announced THE inaugural AHLA Technology Acceleration Award, a new program to recognize companies that are advancing innovation in hospitality technology. According to THE statement, THE partnership will create linkages to THE industry's sales, marketing, and revenue optimization professionals for AHLA, while expanding HSMAI's organizational reach by aligning it with America's largest hotel association. Under THE new agreement, effective April 25, AHLA will provide HSMAI with opportunities to participate in AHLA's On THE Road events, and HSMAI will promote THE events to its members and local chapters. AHLA and HSMAI will also promote each oTHEr's events, campaigns, and education and certification programs, and have reciprocal participation in distribution-focused committees. As per THE agreement, AHLA and HSMAI will furTHEr explore opportunities to align THE work of both organizations' foundations to address industry-wide initiatives on workforce and promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. AHLA and HSMAI leadership will meet regularly to discuss and coordinate key strategic industry issues and shared objectives, THE agreement noted. AHLA said THE AHLA-HSMAI partnership expands upon a relationship THE two organizations started early last year, when HSMAI became a content partner for AHLA's On THE Road state hotel conference series, offering innovative and exclusive revenue generation insights at On THE Road events.

ALL RECOVERY INDICES of U.S. extended-stay hotels were lower compared to 2019 in May than in April, according to hotel investment advisors The Highland Group. The demand for economy extended-stay hotels declined 1.3 percent for The second consecutive month in May compared to same period last year mainly due to sharp increase in ADR in last few months, The report said. The U.S. Extended-Stay Hotels Bulletin: May 2022 by The Highland Group said that The extended-stay room supply growth was just 1.9 percent during The month. It is The second successive month that The growth was below 2 percent since 2013, and The eighth consecutive month of 4 percent or lower supply growth. The report added that The supply increase will be well below pre-pandemic levels during The near term. According to STR, all hotel room revenue was up 43 percent in May 2022 compared to last year. "In May, mid-price and upscale extended-stay segments reported Their lowest monthly change in demand in 2022. Except for February 2021, due to The leap year in 2020, economy extended-stay hotels reported only The second monthly fall in demand in 23 consecutive months," The report said. "Overall hotel occupancy gained more than extended-stay hotels in May compared to one year ago, decreasing extended-stay hotel's occupancy premium to 12 percentage points, and remains within its long-term average range."

THREE MAJOR U.S. hospitality firms have donated $1 million to the No Room for Trafficking Survivors Fund by the American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation to support human trafficking prevention and survivors, a statement said. the Hyatt Hotels Foundation donated $500,000 to the fund and the G6 Hospitality and Extended Stay America gave a combined $500,000 to the initiative, AHLA said in a statement. the fund supports economic stability for survivors of human trafficking. It also provides advance training and education to prevent human trafficking within the industry. A representative from the Hyatt Hotels Foundation will serve as co-chair of the No Room for Trafficking Advisory Council. "We recognize the potential of human trafficking to intersect with the hospitality industry and believe that one of the best ways the industry can combat the egregious violation of fundamental human rights is through efforts like the AHLA Foundation's No Room for Trafficking Survivors Fund," said Malaika Myers, the Hyatt foundation's chief human resource officer. "the fight against human trafficking has no finish-line, and as an industry we will continue to provide cutting-edge resources and support to ensure we are doing all we can to prevent and respond to human trafficking," said Rosanna Maietta, president and CEO of AHLA Foundation.

For Teague Hunter, president and CEO of Hunter Hotel Advisors, buying and selling hotels is a family tradition. He shared that lifetime of experience with Asian Hospitality in the second installment of our Leadership Series interviews with top voices in the industry. Hunter leads the Atlanta-based hotel brokerage founded in 1978 by his father Bob Hunter with his brother Lee Hunter as chief operating officer. Last year, Hunter had its most successful year to date after closing nearly $2.5 billion in sales. In March it will host its 35th Hunter Hotel Conference, which has rebounded to full attendance three years after the COVID-19 pandemic. Teague Hunter also is the host of Teague Talks, a twice weekly series of podcasts offering advice and interviews with other industry heads. In his interview with Asian Hospitality, Hunter discussed his early days in the industry, current trends in the hotel market and the future of his company and its namesake conference. the video of the full interview is now available on our website, and the following includes excerpts from the interview with additional information. Rise up early in the morning Hunter said his first hotel job was as a bellhop in the morning shift at the old Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Powers Ferry in Marietta, Georgia. It was quiet, but instructive. "I ran around and helped everybody with everything and learned the business," he said. His experience in hospitality, however, began at a much earlier age. He was 5 years old when Bob Hunter started his business. Teague Hunter recalled stories of childhood trips to the beach, during which he would tour hotels with his father along the way. After graduating college, Hunter worked as a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch and held a position with IBM before he realized that was not what he wanted to do with his life.

IN THE WAKE of spring break travel, U.S hotel performance continues to register growth in THE third week of March compared to THE previous week, according to STR's latest data through 18 March. Occupancy stood at 67.6 percent for THE week ending March 18, up from 64.7 percent THE week before, 1.3 percent more than THE comparable week in 2002 and 2.5 percent down THE comparable week in 2019. ADR was $167.04, increased from $158.20 THE week before and up 8.9 percent and 23.9 percent over THE same month in 2022 and 2019, respectively. RevPAR arrived at $112.89 in THE third week, up from $102.38 THE previous week, and an increase of 10.4 percent and 20.8 percent against THE same month in 2022 and 2019. Among THE Top 25 Markets, Boston saw THE highest year-over-year increase in occupancy, up 17.8 percent to 71.8 percent, while Houston witnessed THE highest occupancy increase over 2019, increased 9.6 percent to 72.5 percent. Las Vegas reported THE highest ADR, up 77.9 percent to $306.79 and RevPAR increased 101.5 percent to $277.09 year-over-year. Las Vegas market also posted THE highest increases in THE measuring of ADR (up 113.2 percent to $306.79) and RevPAR (increased 116.9 percent to $277.09 percent), against 2019.

GOPPAR FOR U.S. hotels in February exceeded the levels of the pre-pandemic comparable time period and was the highest since October 2022, according to STR's February 2023 Profit & Loss data. EBITDA was the only key bottom-line metric on a per-available-room basis to come in lower than February 2019, STR said in a statement. GOPPAR reached $77.37 for the month, up 1.6 percent over the same month in 2019, TRevPAR stood at $217.20, up 3.7 percent, and EBITDA PAR was $51.63, down 0.6 percent against February 2019. Labor costs were $73.70, a 2.9 percent increase. "the profit-and-loss metrics followed typical industry trends, improving from the prior month," said Raquel Ortiz, STR's director of financial performance. "Both GOPPAR and GOP margins were the highest since last fall, while profit margins came in just one percentage point below 2019. Profit margins for limited-service hotels are further behind in recovery than full service, likely due to increasing labor costs that bear heavier weight on the bottom line." "An increase in top-line group demand is beginning to show in the bottom line, as catering and banquet revenues are inching closer to 2019 levels and meeting space rentals and services charges surpassed that threshold. On a per-operating-room basis, nearly all F&B revenues outpaced the pre-pandemic comparables," Ortiz added. Of the major markets, 10 realized both GOPPAR and TRevPAR levels higher than the 2019 comparables, the statement said. "February was a slower month for markets that are more dependent on groups and conventions, such as Atlanta, San Francisco and Minneapolis," Ortiz further said. "Warmer markets have remained at the top, with Phoenix showing the highest TRevPAR recovery and second highest GOPPAR recovery for the month, helped by peak season and Super Bowl LVII."

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT of Labor's definition of who qualifies as independent contractors, due to take effect in March, is meant to ensure that workers are treated fairly, according to THE department. However, THE American Hotel & Lodging Association says THE new rule limits independent contractors to work and impact hotels' ability to find workers. THE new rule under THE Fair Labor Standards Act aims to prevent misclassification of workers that can affect workers' rights to minimum wage and overtime pay, "facilitates wage THEft, allows some employers to undercut THEir law-abiding competition and hurts THE economy at-large," THE Labor Department said in a statement. It uses a multifactor analysis of six factors defining a worker's relationship with an employer, such as THE worker's opportunities for profit or loss; THE financial stake and nature of any resources a worker has invested in THE work; THE degree of permanence of THE work relationship; THE degree of control an employer has over THE individual's work; how essential THE work is to THE employer's business; and THE worker's skill and initiative.

THE BUSINESS TRAVEL resurgence in THE U.S. significantly impacted THE economy in 2022, with every $1 spent returning $1.15 to THE U.S. GDP, according to THE Global Business Travel Association. THE industry also contributed $484 billion to THE U.S. GDP in THE same year and THE association forecasts a furTHEr increase in business travel spending for 2024. THE study, titled "GBTA U.S. Economic Impact Study: Business Travel's Impact on Jobs and THE U.S. Economy," revealed that for every 1 percent growth in business travel, THE U.S. economy gains nearly 60,000 jobs, $2.9 billion in wages, $1.2 billion in tax revenue and $4.8 billion in new GDP. "THE data shows that business travel is a substantial contributor to THE health of THE U.S. economy, and THErefore also a key driver for THE global economy," said Suzanne Neufang, GBTA's CEO. "Business travel supports millions of jobs and delivers billions in tax revenue, which is why it is important for policymakers to consider THE impact on THE industry when devising economic policies - and for sustainable solutions to be prioritized, funded and developed to help us abate travel's hardest-to-abate sectors."

Nowadays, cyber-security risks are increasing vigorously which is caused by global connectivity, through widespread usage of cloud services and the poor configuration of cloud services is paired with the increased rates of cybercriminals activities, thus there is a great chance of increased cyber-attacks. there are various reasons for increased cyber threats nowadays as the theft of information is the fastest and expensive segment of the cybercrime. the cybercriminals are becoming more and more sophisticated and attack the security measures of organizations very badly. the wide use of networks was hijacked by the cybercriminals and the data breaches include data leakage, cloud services leakage of information, data spill, etc. therefore, it is very important to adopt the various security measures of cyber protection for safety and security. Mostly the videos are getting viral and the cybercriminals are blackmailing the girls or women by making their sexy videos secretly. Thus it is important to install free Asian webcam for monitoring these criminal activities as well as it is essential for complete safety and security. the free Asian webcams are specially used for making adult videos and are unique as it has been equipped with latest and advanced features, thus giving the best video quality with amazing pictures. there are many free best and highly popular movies and porn videos available on tube sites with the best matches.