During the first three months of 2017, the hotel industry in London, England, posted its highest revenue per available room (RevPAR) for any first quarter on record, according to data from STR. The market’s absolute RevPAR level of GBP101.50 was an 11.3 per cent increase compared with Q1 2016.
SA must address shortage of experienced African GMs in hotel industry
According to the Managing Partner of HVS in Africa, Tim Smith, HVS Executive Search recently mapped the entire continent of Africa for general managers and it took them less than a week. ÒThere are a staggeringly low amount of GMs on the continent and this is something that definitely needs to be addressed,Ó he says.
Dual-brand hotels usher in new era as bigger properties go out of style
As the hotel industry learns to streamline costs and position itself to be more competitive against entities like Airbnb, many of the world’s leading hotel owners have taken toÊcombining multiple concepts under one roof in a trend known as dual-brand hotels.Ê
New bill seeks to curb Airbnb in New YorkÑby legalizing it
A new bill is being considered in New York to create exceptions in New York stateÕs housing laws for the establishment of more Airbnb rentals.ÊA Brooklyn state legislator is behind the bill, which seeks to amend the stateÕs multiple-dwelling law, which currently prohibits rentals for less than 30 days in New York City apartments unless the owner is present for the duration of the rental.Ê
French hotel groups invest in RoomChecking
Astotel Group, Maurice Hurand Hotels and BPI have followed in AccorHotel’sÊfootsteps, investing in hotel technology as the future of hotel management, and offer 750,000 EUR late seed-funding to RoomChecking, a hotel communications, housekeeping, and maintenance system startup.
A comeback from Japanese visitors boosts HawaiiÕs tourism spending
A comeback from the Japan visitor market helped boost statewide March tourism numbers, including the industry’s highest monthly spending increase since December 2012. Statewide March arrivals rose 2 per cent year-over-year to 802,802 visitors, who spent a healthy $1.4 billion, up 12 per cent from the prior year, according to visitor data released Friday by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority.
Government urged to review recruitment for hospitality industry post-Brexit
Luxury hotel group Hyatt has warned “life could become very difficult” for the UK hospitality industry after Brexit if access to foreign workers is restricted. Peter Fulton, the firm’s Europe chief, has urged the government to ensure the sector can still draw on a depth of overseas talent, warning the number of British people working in London’s restaurants and hotels was “relatively small”.
Emaar Hospitality Group sets new industry model in hotel management contracts
Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure business of Emaar Properties PJSC, has introduced an industry-defining model for hotel management agreements. This is a marked departure from the prevalent fee structure in the hospitality sector, where hotel operators receive a base fee as a percentage of gross revenue and an incentive fee based on the gross operating profit.
Marriott makes big push for modular construction
Marriott International expects to sign 50 hotel deals that will involve modular construction by its approved vendors, underscoring the growing appeal of prefabrication, the company told 1,300 North American hotel owners and developers attending its Select Brand ownersÕ meeting.
Poortiers launch portal to further sustainable hotelkeeping
A new initiative calling for accountability around sustainability in travel was launched on Earth Day on April 22. NOWÕs mission is to create a global community of consumers who are passionate about travel and want to help tackle the environmental and social challenges facing our planet. NOW Transforming Hospitality is a legacy project created by hotel industry stalwarts Onno and Alexa Poortier.
