TODAY: Impact of countervailing forces on hotel values and cap rates, Russian tourist satisfaction hinges on hotel features and WTTC wants to speed up implementation of biometrics.

Impact of countervailing forces on hotel values and cap rates
Friday, 26th January 2018

After more than five years of relative stability, new factors are at play in the hotel investment market that will affect hotel capitalization rates and values in a changing economic landscape. Hotel sales transaction activity declined in 2017, while cap rates continued to rise modestly, and hotel values held stable >>

The Hottest New Hotel Openings in 2018
26 Jan 2018 : The upcoming year looks like it’s going to be robust and dynamic for the global hospitality industry; In fact, regions like the Asia / Pacific and North America have more than 1,000 total combined projects in their pipelines >>

Russian tourist satisfaction hinges on hotel features
26 Jan 2018 : A consideration of more than a thousand online reviews written by Russian guests revealed a particular appreciation for Hong Kong’s spectacular views and attentive and friendly hotel staff, while there are a few negative issues that hotels may wish to focus on improving, the findings present an overall positive picture >>

IHG expands its presence in Peru
26 Jan 2018 : InterContinental Hotels Group announces the opening of the new-build, 179-room Holiday Inn® Lima Airport hotel, just five minutes from Jorge Chavez Lima International Airport, the two-tower, eight-story property is the second brand IHG has introduced in the capital city of Lima >>

WTTC wants to speed up implementation of biometrics
26 Jan 2018 : WTTC calls for public and private sector collaboration to speed up implementation of biometrics Implementation of biometric technology to facilitate secure borders is the single biggest opportunity for the Travel & Tourism sector in 2018, according to Gloria Guevara Manzo, President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council >>

HIGHLIGHT ARTICLE

Does Influencer Marketing Work For Hotels? [Infographic]
Friday, 26th January 2018

Why is influencer marketing such a hot topic, you may ask? Well, it’s mostly a matter of authenticity, or at least perceived authenticity. Paid media, from newspaper ads to web banners or even social media promoted posts, is often perceived as less credible than reviews generated by peers or fellow travelers. In fact, according to a study by Bloglovin (2017), 88% of customers will trust online reviews by strangers as much as they would recommendations from friends.

And with the rise of YouTubers and Instagramers, with their own niche critical mass of followers, it’s no wonder to see 70% of teenage YouTube subscribers say they relate to YouTube creators more than celebrities (Google, 2017) >>

How To Leverage User-Generated Content for Metasearch

The world of digital marketing is always evolving as travel brands try to keep up with consumer needs and the growing demand for transparency and authenticity. One strategy that’s growing in popularity amongst suppliers is leveraging user-generated content (UGC), such as photos and tweets that are shared publicly by customers across various social media sites >>