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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."

MAJOR U.S. HOTELS firms Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced that they are ceasing operations in Russia due to its ongoing invasion in Ukraine. Also, AAHOA issued a statement condemning the war. The hotel companies also emphasized their efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their employees and guests in both Ukraine and neighboring countries who face these 'unconscionable challenges'. "We have made the decision, effective immediately, to close our corporate office in Moscow, and pause the opening of upcoming hotels and all future hotel development and investment in Russia," Marriott said in a statement. "We have been closely monitoring the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, Russia and neighboring countries, and remain in regular contact with our teams on the ground, as we work to comply with sanctions and applicable laws. Our hotels in Russia are owned by third parties and we continue to evaluate the ability for these hotels to remain open."

FRANCHISEE RESILIENCE AND determination was the focus of Choice Hotels International's 66th annual convention in Las Vegas last week. In keeping with that theme, in a press conference at the convention, corporate leadership for Choice said they are working with AAHOA on ways to implement the association's recently updated 12 Points of Fair Franchising. More than 5,200 people attended the conference, including franchisees and their families. Other news from the event includes the announcement of a new program to promote women ownership of hotels and the hiring of two new franchise development directors. "GO" was the theme of the convention, in recognition of the struggles Choice's franchisees have faced over the past three years of pandemic and economic downturn. The company overcame those challenges, driving new business, advocating for government aid and reducing operating costs for franchisees, said Patrick Pacious, Choice's president and CEO. It also surpassed 2019 system-wide performance levels.

TIMES ARE QUICKLY changing, but never so much as the ongoing advancements in telecommunications. The Federal Communications Commission is taking steps to force carriers to stop selling copper phone lines, or "plain old telephone service" (POTS), which means the legacy analog copper phone line is being phased out sooner rather than later. Networks are aging, parts are unavailable, and technicians are retiring. How does this affect the phone system in your hotel? Depending on what upgrades and advances you have made over the last five years, you may need to switch your PBX systems to a cloud communication platform sooner than later. Oftentimes, however, it is difficult to see the forest for the trees. Considering the recent upheaval in our industry, the challenges facing hoteliers can be overwhelming. The steady increase in travel as restrictions lift, the ongoing trend of "bleisure" travel as more and more offices shut down and employees are allowed to work from anywhere and the pent-up demand to meet in person are exacerbated by the ongoing staffing shortage. Hoteliers have a lot on their plates and replacing a phone system is likely at the bottom of their list.

U.S. HOTELS WILL generate $46.71 billion in state and local tax revenue, more than ever before, according to a survey from the American Hotel & Lodging Association and Oxford Economics. Occupancy is expected to continue its recovery, the report said, but challenges remain. Average U.S. hotel occupancy is projected to reach 63.8 percent in 2023, just under 2019's level of 65.9 percent, according to AHLA. However, the labor shortage is expected to continue this year as hotels seek to fill jobs lost in the pandemic. As of December, national average hotel wages were at historic highs of more than $23 an hour and hotel benefits and flexibility are better than ever. Nearly 100,000 hotel jobs are currently open across the nation, according to job search site Indeed. "Hotels are making significant strides toward recovery, supporting millions of good-paying jobs and generating billions in state and local tax revenue in communities across the nation," said Chip Rogers, AHLA president and CEO. "To continue growing, we need to hire more people. Fortunately, there's never been a better time to be a hotel employee, with wages, benefits, flexibility and upward mobility better than ever before."

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.

ON JUNE 6, MIT Shah, founder and CEO of Noble Investment Group, will be recognized by UJA Federation of New York for his professional and philanthropic achievements. Also, Jenifer Eager has joined Noble as vice president of fund and corporate accounting. Shah will receive the award at the federation's annual Hospitality Division reception and NYU Investment Conference to be held at Marriot Marquis in New York. "We are so pleased to honor Mit this year," commented Jonathan Tisch, executive chairman of Loews Hotels and chair of UJA's Hospitality Division. "His leadership and history of giving back to the industry and community make him the perfect honoree." Shah said the UJA Federation's recognition is the realization of generations of work. "As the eldest child of immigrant parents in search of the American dream, I am honored to be recognized by my friend, Jon, and the incredible stewards of the UJA Federation," he said. "The UJA Federation inspires us to lead lives that matter and to help support those in need. It continues to have an immeasurable impact on humanity." UJA has been funding hundreds of organizations that are responding to ongoing challenges and emerging issues worldwide.

THE U.S. HOTEL industry will be well on the way to recovery in 2022, according to consulting firm HVS Americas. However, a full recovery in real terms, after adjusting for inflation, remains a few years away, it added. With more assets, both distressed and well performing, expected to come to market this year, 2022 will be an exciting year for the industry, said Rod Clough, president of HVS, in an article titled 'ALIS 2022 Takeaways - Our Industry Braces for a Big Year Ahead'. A near full recovery in RevPAR at $85 for U.S. hotels is likely to happen by the end of 2022 when compared to $86 in 2018-19. "The higher inflationary environment will continue to bode well for hotels, resulting in ADR pricing power leading to a lift in revenue on top of still lean operational models. Group travel is still lagging the recovery, but near-term, smaller-group bookings (at newly raised room rates) should help bridge the gap while the industry waits for larger meetings to return," Clough wrote in the article. "Rising development costs due to supply-chain disruptions, labor shortages, and overall inflation are leading to a general contraction in new hotel openings. Moreover, development challenges are intensifying for major CBDs, attributed to slow office re-openings, a lag in larger convention bookings, higher operating/labor costs, and even higher construction costs than your average project."

HIHOTELS BY HOSPITALITY International announced the winners of its 2021 awards. These awards recognized six properties and a vendor in meeting and exceeding the company's standards of operations last year, the company said. "Last year was very challenging again for the hospitality industry, so it was truly inspiring to see so many of our franchisees show such tremendous resilience and determination to succeed. I'd like to commend every one of our award winners and nominees for going above and beyond and showing great pride in what they do," said Chris Guimbellot, president and CEO at hihotels.

A JOINT VENTURE between NewcrestImage and Hospitality Capital Partners recently acquired 16 hotels for $137.3 million from Service Properties Trust, a Massachusetts-based REIT. The deal includes a total of 2,155 rooms in nine states. The portfolio consists of 13 Courtyard and three Residence Inn hotels by Marriott hotels, which are in Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Eleven of the properties underwent major renovations between 2018 and 2019, the company said in a statement. "This transaction suits our company's style of strategically acquiring properties with strong fundamentals, especially during times of a difficult or slowed down economy," said Mehul Patel, managing partner and CEO, NewcrestImage. "It's an opportunity for our joint venture with NewcrestImage to add revenue immediately, while also growing long-term profit potential and asset value," said HCP principals Keith Mishkin and Primo Parmar. The transaction was handled by Al Calhoun and Mark Fair at CBRE in Atlanta. "Closing this transaction was particularly satisfying given the size of the deal and the challenges we're facing in the debt markets," added Al Calhoun, vice chairman with CBRE Hotels in Atlanta. "We were able to complete this transaction by breaking it up into three deals with three different lenders. These lenders had great confidence in the sponsorship and the quality of the brands and markets."

HOTEL OWNERS NAVIGATING industry changes wrought by the pandemic face no dearth of challenges: the decline in business travel, competition from home rental apps and ongoing labor shortages are just a few. Too often, the people owning the hotels - many of them small business owners - are figuring out how to adapt to the new hospitality landscape with added complications from the hotel brands that should be their partners. While many hotel owners have struggled to maintain their livelihoods since the pandemic began three years ago, some big hotel chain franchisers sold hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of loyalty point value to credit card companies under a system that often fails to adequately reimburse the franchisees. That is the thanks these hardworking franchisees got as they worked hard to keep hotel doors open. It does not have to be this way. Generations of franchise owners have successfully embraced entrepreneurship through the franchising model. Franchising allows budding entrepreneurs to adopt a known brand name and comprehensive business strategies in exchange for a portion of the revenue. This partnership has nurtured our industry: Hotels owned by our members employ 1.1 million Americans and contribute $368 billion to the economy. But the franchising relationship needs to be a two-way street to be truly successful. That is why we must ensure that the franchise industry engages in sustainable practices that recognize and safeguard the contributions of small business owners.

LINA PATEL IS Red Roof's new director for strategic franchise initiatives. In the new role, Patel will direct the growth of Red Roof among diverse and underrepresented corporate and franchise communities. Patel has been a hotel owner for 23 years, according to the statement. Prior to joining Red Roof, she was the member of one of the industry's largest franchise advisory committees. In 2007, Patel joined the board of LPS of USA, a non-profit religious, cultural, and non-political organization providing support to American immigrants from India's Leuva Patidar region. She will report to Matthew Hostetler, Red Roof's chief development officer, the company said in a statement. "Lina is one of the strongest advocates for growth and diversity in our industry, and we are delighted to have her join our team as director of strategic initiatives," said George Limbert, president of Red Roof. "She brings a unique and multi-faceted background as a franchise owner, industry executive and AAHOA board member to her new role," Limbert added. Patel, who joined the board of AAHOA in 2017, played a role in launching the organization's HerOwnership program in 2022 - to help further foster, promote, and empower women entrepreneurs in hospitality sector. "With six years on the board of AAHOA, Lina has a deep understanding of the challenges everyday hotel owners face, as well as their paths to success, which she has demonstrated by example in her own career," Hostetler said. Hostetler said 35 percent of Red Roof's franchise system is represented by women.

In an era where sustainability and convenience are paramount considerations for travelers, hotels are embracing innovative solutions to stay ahead in the competitive hospitality industry. One such forward-thinking amenity that is transforming the guest experience and boosting revenue is the integration of electric vehicle charging stations. Beyond environmental consciousness, these charging stations offer a plethora of benefits that can significantly impact a hotel's bottom line. 1. ATTRACTING A GROWING MARKET SEGMENT The shift towards electric vehicles is undeniable, with more consumers opting for eco-friendly transportation. In the years to come more EVs will be hitting the roads. By installing EV charging stations, hotels tap into a burgeoning market segment, attracting EV travelers that plan their trips around EV chargers. This strategic move puts the hotel at the top of the list and positions the hotel as a progressive and forward-looking establishment. 2. ENHANCING THE GUEST EXPERIENCE Providing EV charging stations enhances the overall guest experience. Travelers with electric vehicles often face the challenge of finding suitable charging points during their journeys. By offering on-site charging, hotels alleviate this concern, fostering a sense of convenience and loyalty among guests. The seamless integration of charging stations into the guest experience contributes to positive reviews and encourages repeat bookings.

PEACHTREE GROUP, A commercial real estate investment firm with a $6.4 billion portfolio, has secured approximately $660 million in credit investments since Dec. 1, with an additional $350 million expected to close within the next 30 to 45 days. These investments focus on hotels, multifamily, industrial, and student housing, Peachtree said in a statement. "We are witnessing heightened activity in response to the anticipation of sustained elevated interest rates and continued reductions in bank exposure," said Greg Friedman, Peachtree Group's managing principal/CEO. "The pressing need to refinance maturing debt, estimated at $2.8 trillion in U.S. commercial real estate debt by the end of 2028, is a growing concern. Commercial real estate stakeholders are grappling with the challenges of increased capital costs and constrained liquidity, particularly in securing capital for acquisitions, recapitalizations and development initiatives." Peachtree recently closed one of its largest individual credit transactions to date, securing a $102.9 million, three-year loan to recapitalize a 350-room Marriott dual-brand AC Hotel Sunnyvale Moffett Park and TETRA Hotel, Autograph Collection in Sunnyvale, California, the statement added.

Video games are a cornerstone of modern society. Through them, you can solve challenging puzzles, face others in battle, and go on daring adventures. However, they also play a part in physical and mental healthcare as well. While there are many documented studies, here are some of the ways they can improve your health. RELAXATION AND MEDITATION Repetitive games where you don't have to make a decision or solve puzzles repeatedly provides a sense of relaxation. However, some games are designed as an emotional outlet or story, causing a cathartic experience. Relaxation is one of the benefits of gaming at an online gambling service such as the Bwin casino, available in Hungary. You can find similar websites reviewed by Péter Deli; you can find his profile here, that'll take your mind off life and possibly win a bit as well. A game such as Animal Crossing provides an attractive and safe environment. The tasks aren't demanding, and if you fail, there's no negative effect. Playing titles such as this allows you to slow your thoughts or relax without worrying about losing anything.

PEACHTREE GROUP SECURED a $73 million construction loan and C-PACE financing to fund the development of a 263-key dual-brand Home2 Suites and Tru by Hilton Hotel in San Diego, California, on behalf of the locally based Baxter Hotel Group. Baxter is set to commence construction on its 16-story, dual-branded hotel this month, with a projected 22-month construction timeline, Peachtree said in a statement. Peachtree facilitated a $50.4-million floating-rate construction loan with a three-year term and secured $22.6 million in fixed-rate C-PACE financing, amortized over 25 years. Collectively, these funds covered 64 percent of the total development cost, the statement said. "We were able to execute an innovative capital stack with the addition of C-PACE in an otherwise challenging financing market, providing ample capital for the construction to begin while saving the sponsor 200 basis points in interest rate spread," said Jared Schlosser, Peachtree's senior vice president, head of hotel origination and C-PACE.

THE STATE OF the U.S. hotel industry is strong going into 2024, according to American Hotel & Lodging Association's 2024 State of the Hotel Industry report. Average hotel occupancy is expected to reach nearly 63.6 percent in 2024, a slight increase from the 62.9 percent in 2023 but below the 65.8 percent rate recorded in 2019. Nominal RevPAR is also anticipated to rise to $101.82 in 2024, up by 4 percent from 2023 and over 17 percent from 2019. AHLA projects hotels will pay employees a record sum of over $123 billion in wages, salaries, and compensation in 2024, surpassing $118 billion in 2023 and $102 billion in 2019. Hotels are expected to add approximately 45,000 employees this year, while the industry's workforce remains nearly 225,000 below the almost 2.37 million employed in 2019, the AHLA report said. The report, projecting persistent challenges for hoteliers in the face of nationwide labor shortages as they approach 2019 occupancy levels, draws on data and analysis from Oxford Economics. It was developed in collaboration with AHLA Premier Partners: STR, Avendra, Ecolab, Encore, JLL, Oracle, and Towne Park.

As we stand on the brink of a new era, the world of finance is undergoing a seismic shift. Fintech, the fusion of finance and technology, continues to revolutionize the way we manage, invest, and interact with money. With each passing year, innovations in fintech reshape industries, challenge traditional banking models, and democratize access to financial services. The fintech industry has been a hotbed of innovation and growth, reshaping how financial services are delivered and consumed. As we look ahead to the next decade, several key trends and predictions are set to define the future landscape of fintech. Looking ahead, the next decade promises to be even more transformative. Here, we delve into some top predictions that will shape the future of fintech.

APPROXIMATELY 61 PERCENT of Americans are set to travel overnight for leisure in the upcoming four months, with 34 percent anticipating an uptick in their leisure travels this summer compared to last year, according to a recent survey from the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Additionally, around 31 percent of respondents plan to up their hotel stays this summer versus the previous one. Around 35 percent of Americans anticipate an overnight business trip within the next four months, with 16 percent planning to boost their business-related travel this summer compared to last summer, the survey conducted by Morning Consult found. Meanwhile, hotels remain the preferred lodging option for both business travelers, with 60 percent, and leisure travelers, with 46 percent, this summer, the survey revealed. The survey presents a positive outlook for hoteliers amid ongoing economic challenges like a nationwide labor shortage and high interest rates, AHLA said. However, it indicates that persistent inflation remains a significant obstacle to growth for hoteliers and other travel-related businesses.

HIHOTELS BY HOSPITALITY International, a franchiser of conversion and new-build economy hotels, recently expanded its communication suite to enhance dialogue with its franchisees, supporting hotel owners through multi-channel engagement. The company maintains open channels at all levels, including direct access to the CEO, hihotels said in a statement. "At hihotels, the strength of our brands is rooted in the voices of our franchisees and the relationships we build," said Chris Guimbellot, hihotels' president and CEO. "We are small enough to listen, yet large enough to deliver-enabling us to focus on individual properties and provide unparalleled industry support." The expanded communication suite includes: Advisory council: Launched in 2023, this forum meets quarterly and includes franchisees, a vendor and the hihotels director, allowing franchisees to help shape hihotels' hihub: Introduced in December 2023, this digital platform facilitates continuous communication between franchisees and the hihotels team, offering educational resources to enhance hotel operations. WhatsApp group: Rolled out in the first quarter of 2024, the real-time messaging platform enables franchisees to contribute to system-wide improvements and build relationships with other franchisees and the hihotels corporate team. Newsletters: INNside Track, a quarterly newsletter, keeps franchisees informed on industry and marketing trends, company updates, events and networking opportunities. It is complemented by "An Update from Guimbellot," which highlights challenges, opportunities and new programs. Each communication includes Guimbellot's phone number and encourages franchisees to reach out with questions, concerns, ideas and feedback. Assurance & marketing program: This initiative has directors who help service properties and provide owners with ongoing sales, marketing and operations support. Regional conferences: Hihotels conducts smaller, regional conferences to nurture pe