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ATRIUM HOSPITALITY MARKED the graduation of the inaugural class of WomenRISE, its female hotel general manager development program, which ran from February to October this year. The program helps women advance their careers through mentorship, resources and growth opportunities. Meanwhile, the selection process is underway for the next group of future GMs, set for career development in 2025, Atrium said in a statement. "Atrium's first year to offer our innovative WomenRISE program has been highly successful," said Anneliesse Cooper, Atrium Hospitality's chief human resources officer. "WomenRISE participants, instructors and mentors overwhelmingly agree that the investment in time and resources is hastening the career paths of women in hospitality. Through virtual group classes, individual interviews and 360-degree assessments for identifying strengths and areas for development, Atrium's WomenRISE 2024 class participants received focused training and mentoring to confidently move forward in their hotel career journeys."

HOTELS STRUGGLED WITH rising costs outpacing revenue growth in 2024, hindering economic growth and job creation, according to American Hotel & Lodging Association's 2025 State of the Industry report. Despite these challenges, opportunities remain, driven by guest spending trends, shifting traveler behaviors, and major upcoming events. The report, published with Accenture, found property costs outpacing revenue, with operations, maintenance, sales, marketing, and IT expenses rising nearly 5 percent in 2024, adding to hotel industry challenges. "America's small business hotel owners have been struggling as rising costs, compounded by high inflation and interest rates, make it difficult to stay open and serve guests," said Rosanna Maietta, AHLA's president and CEO. "That's why we will be focused on promoting policies that help our members overcome these challenges so they can focus on what they do best-creating pathways for their employees to find lasting careers and creating unforgettable experiences for their guests."

MARK HOPLAMAZIAN, PRESIDENT and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corp., will join Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO of Peachtree Group, for a fireside chat at the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference on March 19. Hunter introduced this format last year with Anthony Capuano, CEO of Marriott International, as the featured guest. In "A Conversation with Mark Hoplamazian," he will share insights on his hospitality career, leadership approach, Hyatt's market position, company outlook and industry developments, Hunter said in a statement. U.S. extended-stay hotels finished 2024 strong after a slow start, with supply, demand and room revenue growth outpacing the industry, while ADR and RevPAR remained positive but gained momentum later in the year, according to The Highland Group.​ "At Hyatt, business is personal-relationships, trust, and a deep understanding of our guests, customers, and owners are at the heart of everything we do," said Hoplamazian. "In today's competitive landscape, hotel performance is driven by the human connections that shape our industry. That's why we collaborate closely with owners and operators like Peachtree Group to create long-term value for their investments."

MIRAJ PATEL, AAHOA chairman, was named Businessperson of the Year by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston at its 25th Anniversary Gala on Sept. 21. The association congratulated Patel on becoming the youngest recipient in the chamber's history. Patel, a second-generation hotelier, began his hospitality career at a young age, growing up in his family's 30-room independent property, AAHOA said in a statement. He is now president of Wayside Investment Group, a Texas-based firm focused on lodging and hospitality real estate. "I am honored to receive the Businessperson of the Year award from the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston," said Patel. "It's a privilege to be recognized by an organization that champions the entrepreneurial spirit and supports the growth of our community. This award reflects the hard work and dedication of everyone at AAHOA, and I am grateful to be part of such an incredible network of leaders. I look forward to continuing to work alongside the chamber to promote the success of our businesses and our industry."

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.