2019 Global Meeting Activity, 20% of US pipeline is budget segment, defining today’s boutique hotel, rise of nomadism and is sustainable luxury in hospitality just a pipe dream?.

2019 Global Meeting Activity
Tuesday, 21st May 2019

A decade after the beginning of the Great Recession, the meetings industry is settling into a new normal.

Our global survey shows planners in many regions are planning more meetings, for more attendees and of longer duration, it is a story of a mature industry with expectations for incremental growth for meeting numbers, duration, and attendees – consistent across meeting types and regions >>

Thomas Cook Hotel Investments grows to nine properties
21 May 2019 : Thomas Cook announces that its hotel fund, Thomas Cook Hotel Investments, has acquired a further three properties, including one of the company’s flagship hotels, Casa Cook Kos, The acquisitions mean that the fund now has nearly doubled its portfolio in just over a year, to nine locations >>

Holiday Inn Express, Home2 Suites, and Fairfield Inn account for 20% of US pipeline projects
21 May 2019 : In the Lodging Econometrics (LE) first quarter report for 2019, analysts detailed the leading franchise companies and their brands in the construction pipeline >>

Consumers moving away from traditional forms of entertainment and media consumption
18 May 2019 : Nearly 40% of those surveyed are moving away from consuming traditional entertainment -- now streaming daily or more, more than 50% of Gen Z consumers are streaming daily or more, 25% of consumers turn to social media first for news on current events and consumers are increasingly using digital technology for more than just shopping >>

HIGHLIGHT ARTICLE

Defining Today’s Boutique Hotel
Tuesday, 21st May 2019

Boutique hotels first came about to address this kind of thinking—to cater to the individual with pleasing aesthetics and service. But what defines a boutique hotel, and when did they first start appearing?

With the ubiquity of photo sharing, where a person stays is becoming as much a part of their identity as the clothes they wear or their activities. Because travelers have so many options in a given location, the uniqueness of their accommodations is just as important as the price >>

Is Sustainable Luxury in Hospitality Just a Pipe Dream?
There’s a very common notion in the hospitality industry – that luxury and sustainability will always be at odds with each other, that luxury stands far above any sustainable measures that a hotel can take, but that’s not true and luxury hotels must put eco-friendly measures at the core of their operations if they’re hoping to attract the new travelers >>

The Rise of Nomadism and How Travel and Hospitality Are Responding
Following the great recession of 2008 and the increased effect of globalization, more and more people have the opportunity to combine travel and work.

Who wouldn’t want the chance to combine travelling, working, meeting new people and having fun? What’s the alternative? To be stuck in an office or cubicle? No thanks! >>

Understanding the Concept of ‘Candidate Shelf Life’
In any industry, including the hospitality and hotel industry, a concept exists called 'candidate shelf life,' and it’s one that can affect the chances of a hotel landing top talent for their team >>

Areas of Technology Focus to Support a Customer-Centric Travel Industry
Our industry has to keep the perspective of travelers in focus if we want to be successful and this means being absolutely committed to traveler centricity and driven by their experiences >>