Group items tagged

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.

IDEAS, A SAS company specializing in hospitality revenue management software, recently integrated nearly 2,000 properties with the Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform. This connects their RMS solutions, including IDeaS G3 RMS, with Oracle's OPERA Cloud platform, accessible via OHIP and the Oracle Cloud Marketplace, the companies said in a joint statement. "The hospitality industry has long craved faster data exchanges and more capabilities to handle ever-increasing data volumes, and OHIP delivers precisely that," said Klaus Kohlmayr, IDeaS' chief evangelist and development officer. "By accelerating data exchange and efficiently transmitting the staggering 12 billion pricing decisions IDeaS processes daily, OHIP empowers us to innovate faster as partners with Oracle. This goes beyond pricing and forecasting. It unlocks the true potential of data-driven revenue management, allowing hoteliers to make smarter decisions and achieve optimal results." The two companies share nearly 10,000 clients, the statement said. IDeaS is connecting 50 to 100 hotels per week, allowing for faster implementation of future capabilities and additional solutions.

APPROXIMATELY 75 PERCENT of Americans plan to take road trips this summer, with about 33 percent intending to travel more than 250 miles from home, according to a recent study by WalletHub. However, choosing an affordable travel destination is challenging due to higher gas prices, currently averaging over $3.45 per gallon nationwide, and increased accommodation costs. The WalletHub study, which assessed all 50 U.S. states across 32 metrics to identify the most budget-friendly road-trip destinations, ranked Texas, Minnesota and New York as the top three states to visit this summer. "Taking a summer road trip can be a very exciting way to experience a new place, but with the prices of gas, food and accommodations heavily impacted by inflation, you'll want to be in a state that makes this type of vacation affordable," said Cassandra Happe, WalletHub's analyst. "Safe roads are also key, and so is having plenty of worthwhile attractions to stop at along the road. The best states for summer road trips therefore are those that keep costs low while providing the best driving experience and most fun activities."

U.S. EXTENDED-STAY HOTELS showed positive growth in April after a difficult first quarter, according to The Highland Group. Monthly room revenue growth was the highest in nearly a year, demand saw its strongest increase in 16 months, and ADR and RevPAR turned positive after two and four months of decline, respectively. "The performance of extended-stay hotels in April re-established the segment's long-term trend of increasing its market share of total hotel supply, demand and room revenues," said Mark Skinner, partner at The Highland Group. The extended-stay room supply grew 2.8 percent in April, slightly above the average monthly increase over the last two years, the report said. However, April marked 31 consecutive months of 4 percent or less supply growth, with annual supply change under 2 percent for two years-both metrics well below the long-term average.

HYATT HOTELS CORP. reported an almost 85 percent growth in its global pipeline since 2017, reaching a record of 129,000 rooms. During this period, the company doubled its luxury rooms, tripled its resort rooms, and quintupled its lifestyle rooms. Pictured is a rendering of the New Andaz Miami Beach in Miami Beach, Florida. The company is expanding its brand portfolio both nationally and globally, selecting new and existing markets to enhance its network effect for owners and guests, Hyatt said in a statement. "Hyatt leading the industry in net rooms growth for seven years is a result of our unique approach to development," said Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt's president and chief executive officer. "We strategically expand our portfolio of brands, intentionally selecting new and existing markets to enhance our network effect for owners and guests. Our commitment to thoughtful organic growth and strategic acquisitions amplifies our asset-light business model. Our goal is not to be the largest hospitality company, but the company most valued by colleagues, guests, and owners."

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been a game-changer in various industries, and the hospitality sector is no exception. The integration of IoT technology in hospitality has transformed how hotels and resorts operate, offering enhanced guest experiences and streamlined operations. IoT refers to the network of interconnected devices and sensors that collect and exchange data through the Internet, enabling seamless communication and automation. Let's explore how the IoT can benefit the hospitality industry, with a particular focus on the role of mobile phones in enhancing guest experiences. Personalized Guest Experience According to Analytic Steps, one of the most significant advantages of IoT in the hospitality industry is its ability to provide personalized guest experiences. IoT-enabled devices like smart room systems and mobile apps can gather data on guest preferences and behavior. With this information, hotels can tailor their services to meet individual needs, creating a more personalized and memorable stay for guests.

OF THE TWO in five Americans going on business trips this year, 49 percent intend to turn it into a "bleisure" trip, according to a recent survey by Howdy.com. Bleisure is a blend of "business" and "leisure," differing from "workcations," where workers integrate vacation with work at a destination of their choice. While about a quarter of survey respondents opt for workcations to save paid time off, 60 percent of American business travelers prefer bleisure trips. Approximately 64 percent of American workers attribute the rise of bleisure to improved work-life balance as business travel rebounds post-COVID-19. Despite only about 30 percent of workers being familiar with the term bleisure, many are embracing the concept, said Howdy.com, a talent sourcing firm based in Austin, Texas. The Howdy.com survey of more than 1,000 full-time employees across the U.S., found that more than two-thirds of respondents would be attracted to jobs that encourage bleisure, while many suggest that companies should offer a "free day" on work trips to promote bleisure. The survey revealed that about 75 percent of respondents would be more inclined to collaborate with international teams if provided with increased bleisure travel opportunities.

FF&E PROVIDER HÄFELE and Like Magic, a guest experience platform, are producing a new multifunctional hotel room concept. The "Work and Sleep" concept allows hotel operators to transform rooms into offices, meeting spaces and other functional areas using digitally enabled furniture, fitting solutions and specialized software. Work and Sleep integrates a booking engine, guest platform, employee interface and monitoring tools into one central hub, streamlining hotel management, the companies said in a joint statement. It will combine Like Magic's guest and employee experience platform with Häfele's hardware systems, the statement said. The collaboration aims to introduce new revenue models by activating otherwise vacant rooms while reducing outfitting costs. "Our goal is to lead the way in hotel industry innovation with our forward-thinking concepts," said Gregor Riekena, Häfele's CEO. "We are currently testing these new ideas at the ibis Styles Hotel in Nagold, Germany, which serves as a valuable proving ground for our initiatives. This innovation not only allows us to gather essential insights and refine our concepts, but also demonstrates our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what modern hotels can offer. By continuously evolving and enhancing our solutions, we aim to set new standards for guest experience and operational efficiency."

HILTON HOTELS & RESORTS retained its title as the world's most valuable hotel brand for the ninth consecutive year, while Hyatt Hotels Corp. secured the second spot again, according to the latest data from Brand Finance. Meanwhile, India's Taj Hotels is the world's second-fastest-growing brand, primarily due to revenue growth and improved brand strength. Hilton's brand value is estimated at $11.6 billion in the Brand Finance Global 500 2024 ranking. Hyatt holds a value of $6 billion, and Taj increased its brand value by 45 percent to $545 million, Brand Finance said in a statement. "Many top hotel brands have struggled to grow their brand value as robustly as in the years leading up to 2020, and the Brand Finance Hotels 2024 ranking shows that these challenges are ongoing as the industry recovers," said Henry Farr, Brand Finance's associate director. "Despite an uptick in travel and hotel demand, the actual growth hasn't matched expectations, resulting in slight declines or minimal brand value growth for the world's leading hotel brands."

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL RECENTLY launched "Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy," an online travel booking program for small and medium business travelers. This program combines the benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio with travel tools for booking, managing, and expensing business travel. It is available to businesses in the U.S., Canada and other countries, Marriott said in a statement. "We recognize the significant value small businesses provide to the hotel industry," said Drew Pinto, Marriott International's executive vice president and chief revenue and technology officer. "Whether small to medium-sized businesses are looking for convenient online booking capabilities for their employees or better expense management solutions, the all-in-one platform, merged with our portfolio of hotel brands around the world, provides everything they need to manage their business travel needs."

If you have plans to visit to the America and you are a citizen of UK or any of the European countries that fall under the category of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) from the US. You need to apply for ESTA authorization before getting an entry to the USA, while you don't need to apply for the US VISA.

Checkout Photography tours in abroad. Iceland photography tours in Europe, USA, Africa and Australia. Birdwing provides you international photography tours details.

Broome County Map for free download. Printable map of Broome County, New York (USA) showing the County boundaries, County seat, major cities, roads, and rail network

Washington Monument was build in order to honor George Washington in the USA. The monument was dedicated to G. Washington on 22nd February 1885. It was constructed n the early 19th century. The monument is 555 feet high.

Jennifer Stilwell is the new vice president of marketing for auroHOTELS, led by D.J. Rama as president and CEO. Previously, she served as chief marketing officer for VisitGreenvilleSC, the destination marketing organization for Greenville, South Carolina, where auroHOTELS is based. Prior to VisitGreenvilleSC, Stilwell led tourism brand marketing for Leslie Advertising, handling accounts such as the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. She also worked for New York ad agency Warren/Kremer representing NYCVB, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, La Cabana in Aruba and Club Med. A native of New Jersey, Stilwell graduated from Rollins College. While at VisitGreenvilleSC, where she also served as executive vice president and chief strategic officer, she directed and launched the "yeahTHATgreenville" rebranding campaign for the city.

MORE THAN 109 million people are expected to travel over the Christmas and New Year's holidays, most of them on the road as gas prices drop, according to AAA Travel. The COVID-19 Omicron variant is having an impact, primarily to lower gas prices. The number of travelers going 50 miles or more between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2 is a 34 percent increase from 2020, AAA said in its travel forecast. That extra 27.7 million people traveling brings this year's numbers to 92 percent of 2019 levels. "Americans who canceled their vacations in 2020 want to gather with family and friends for the holidays this year, although they will still be mindful of the pandemic and the new omicron variant," said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. "With vaccines widely available, conditions are much different, and many people feel a greater level of comfort with travel." As in years past, driving remains the most popular form of travel, with more than 100 million planning to get behind the wheel. More than 6 million people are expected to travel by air, while 3 million people are booking buses, trains and cruises.

The Best Western Plus Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is now open. It is owned by Anish Patel. The 60-room hotel is near Hersheypark, The Hershey Co., Hershey's Chocolate World, Hersheypark Stadium, Giant Center, Milton Hershey School, the Hershey Medical Center and Penn State Health and the Tanger Outlets Hershey. Amenities included 1,000 square feet of meeting space, a heated indoor pool, fitness center and outdoor patio area. "Best Western Plus hotels go beyond the expected, and we are thrilled to be part of this well-respected and highly-regarded brand," said Anish Patel, Owner of the Best Western Plus Hershey. "Hershey is a destination for travelers around the world, and we look forward to our brand-new Best Western Plus® hotel being a preferred travel option for business and leisure travelers alike."

WAYSIDE INVESTMENT GROUP of Houston and Iridescent Hotels of Dallas are partnering on the management of two hotels in San Antonio, Texas, and Houston. Both companies are relatively new ventures by established hoteliers. The hotels are the 126-room Hyatt Place San Antonio-Northwest/Medical Center and the 113-room Holiday Inn Houston West - Westway Park, and the hotels' new owners are also based in Houston. The Hyatt Place is near San Antonio International Airport, several company headquarters, medical centers and the University of Texas at San Antonio. The Holiday Inn is near USA Baseball, Memorial City Mall, Houston's Energy Corridor, the Galleria, Downtown Houston, Reliant Park and Minute Maid Park. "The addition of these two hotels is testimony to the continued steady growth and expansion of Iridescent Hotels' third-party management team and the collaboration with Wayside Investment Group," the companies said in a statement. "Several more additions are on the horizon for late first quarter and early second quarter."

Jay Pricher is the new general counsel for Best Western Hotels & Resorts. He succeeds Larry Cuculic into the role after Cuculic was named Best Western's president and CEO in October. Previously, Pricher was the company's vice president of legal, according to a press release. Prior to joining Best Western, he was vice president and associate general counsel for Financial American Corp., a real estate focused private equity firm. Pricher has a bachelor's degree in legal studies and politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a juris doctor degree from UC's Hastings College of the Law. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, with an emphasis on International Finance. "Jay is a strategic leader who has a deep understanding of our unique organizational structure and the needs of our hoteliers," said Larry Cuculic, President and Chief Executive Officer, Best Western Hotels & Resorts. "He has a proven track record of supporting our members and hoteliers across a variety of legal issues related to international operations, intellectual property matters and business litigation. I have great confidence that Jay will continue to deliver exceptional leadership as he takes on this expanded role."

THE U.S. SENATE and House passed a $1.5 trillion government-funding package last week that includes some much-needed relief for the hospitality industry, two associations said. However, the spending bill also missing some elements industry advocates have pressed Congress and the administration to pass. The omnibus spending bill passed on a 68-31 vote in the Senate and is now awaiting President Biden's signature, according to government focused news agency RollCall. com. At 2,700-pages, the omnibus contains all 12 fiscal 2022 spending bills and has been in negotiations for five months. The bill includes the Restoring Brand USA Act that will provide $250 million in relief funding to the destination marketing organization that promotes travel to the U.S. The U.S. Travel Association welcomed that fact in a statement from Roger Dow, USTA president and CEO.