TODAY: Advancing technology and the future of work, Outbound travel grows strongly as Latin America makes good progress and Minor Hotels announces AVANI to debut in Oman.

Advancing technology and the future of work
Thursday, 4th January 2018

The US Department of Labor released its Draft Fiscal Years 2018 to 2022 Strategic Plan. Sadly, it contained no references to Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, or other automated systems, not only are these technological advances driving some of the global economy's fastest-growing industries, but they will also play important roles in the economy and labor market of the future >>

Outbound travel grows strongly as Latin America makes good progress
4 Jan 2018 : The Americas can celebrate a good year for international travel and tourism: North Americans are travelling strongly to destinations in Europe and Latin America this year, while source markets such as Brazil are on the path to recovery, the outlook for both North America and Latin America next year is for a continuation of these positive trends >>

WeWork signs largest single leasing deal in Shanghai
3 Jan 2018 : Co-working giant WeWork has agreed to lease an entire building of approximately 290,000 sqf (gross floor area) in the newly built China Overseas International Center in Huangpu District, Shanghai >>

Minor Hotels announces AVANI to debut in Oman
2 Jan 2018 : Scheduled to open in 2020, the 250-key AVANI Muscat Hotel will be located in Seeb to the west of the city, 15 minutes’ drive from Muscat International Airport >>

Hotel Nikko Bali to open in 2018
1 Jan 2018 : Okura Nikko Hotel Management announced it has agreed to begin operating one of the Bali, Indonesia hotel properties of PT Karya Tehnik Tehnik Hotelindo from January 1, 2018, the hotel will be rebranded as Hotel Nikko Bali in April 2018 >>

Ascot caps record growth year
29 Dec 2017 : Ascott is boosting its record growth this year with its first foray into Africa, it has secured contracts to manage two properties in the heart of Accra, one of Africa’s top cities for investment: the 220-unit Ascott 1 Oxford Street Accra will open in phases from 2019, while the 40-unit Kwarleyz Residence will open in 4Q 2018 >>

HIGHLIGHT ARTICLE

As Cruises Grow in Asia, Will Customer Behaviour and Tech Converge to Rock the Boat?
Thursday, 4th January 2018

There are many things cruise companies say that they hold to be true. One of these is, if you’ve been on a cruise, you will become a fan for life, I don’t necessarily believe that to be true – I went on my first sea cruise when cruising was just taking off in Singapore in the 80s with the launch of Star Cruises, and it certainly didn’t convert me >>

How to Make the Most of Competitive Research
Whether you run a hotel, marketing company or any business for that matter, knowing your competitors has become an inherent part of marketing strategy, it is crucial to learning how to position your business and allows you to get – and stay – one step ahead >>

Strike One and You’re Out! Five Ways to Ensure Your Customer Service Is a Hit
Here is a sobering statistic: According to the Five9 Customer Index 2017 report, 77% of customers in the B2C space will not do business with you again if you give them bad customer service the first time they do business with you, this is huge >>

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Want to be Successful in Hotels? Set Fewer Goals (Yes, Really)

Very few hoteliers — at least those of us in it for the long haul — will tell you the road is easy, the day-to-day is a never-ending stream of challenges, while the longer career path demands persistence and there is a certain mental toughness that comes with the territory >>