Thu.Aug 08, 2024

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Expedia Group Delays Rollout of One Key Loyalty Program Beyond the U.S. and the UK

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Ariane Gorin is not going to be a Peter Kern clone in her new role as Expedia Group CEO. Among her first acts was to pause the international rollout of the Group's One Key loyalty program.

Travel 318
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Hyatt Hotels Corporation Reports Q2 2024 Results

Lodging

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corporation reported second quarter 2024 results. Highlights include: Mark S. Hoplamazian, president and CEO of Hyatt, said, “We posted solid second quarter results demonstrating our differentiated positioning and continued momentum. System-wide RevPAR grew by 4.7 percent and net rooms growth was 4.6 percent, generating record gross fee revenue of $275 million in the quarter.

Pipeline 274
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Choice Hotels: ‘Normalization’ in U.S., Maintains Profit Forecast

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Choice Hotels recently saw its U.S hotels continue to perform roughly 10% above 2019 levels in revenue per available room. Its executives believe that trend may roll on next year.

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Rigorous Revenue Management: AI Tech Tools Take Pricing and Forecasting Accuracy to the Next Level

Lodging

Revenue management in the hotel industry has become a science over the last few years with pricing strategies that increasingly factor in supply/demand fluctuations and the development of automated revenue management systems (RMSs). The progress has resulted in a rate adjustment approach that is both more efficient and highly personalized, based on multiple data sources from guest demographics to current market conditions.

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Smart Tools & Strong Teams: A People-First Approach to AI in Sales

Speaker: Matt Sunshine, CEO at The Center for Sales Strategy

AI isn’t replacing salespeople—it’s empowering them. The most forward-thinking sales organizations are using AI to enhance human performance rather than eliminate it. From coaching and messaging to prospecting and pipeline accountability, artificial intelligence is giving managers and SDRs the new tools they need to work smarter, sell better, and close more.

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Tripadvisor’s Controlling Shareholder and Certares Are in ‘Active Discussions’ About Transactions

Skift Blog

Liberty Tripadvisor is in "active discussions" with Certares about a deal related to a $325 preferred stock investment that's due in March.

Travel 304
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GBTA and Cvent Study Finds an Opportunity for Tech Integration to Transform Business Travel

Lodging

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia—The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and Cvent released a new study titled, “The Future Is Now: Technology Transformation in Corporate Travel.” According to the study, the industry is poised to allow technology to transform and accelerate business travel. Based on a survey of business travel professionals in North America and Europe, the report reveals that while 88 percent of travel management company respondents, 74 percent of suppliers, and 59 percent

Business 261

More Trending

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STR, TE Slightly Adjust 2024-2025 U.S. Hotel Forecast

Lodging

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UAE Building Village For Thousands of Staff Amid Hotel Boom in Ras Al Khaimah

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Junior staff and management will live in seperate buildings, and RAK says the campus will prioritize wellbeing.

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Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island Completes First Phase of Renovation

Lodging

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, South Carolina—Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island recently completed phase one of a resort renovation program, showing its 340 redesigned guestrooms during a ribbon-cutting celebration. Inspired by the island’s nature, guestrooms now have several upgrades and enhancements. “We are thrilled to officially unveil our newly renovated guestrooms just in time for the peak summer season,” said Bob Cosgrove, general manager of Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. “We a

Resorts 254
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Expedia.com’s Growth Outpaced Rivals, but CEO Notes ‘Softening’ Demand

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Was that a typo? No rooms nights at Expedia Group's flagship brand leaped 20%. That's rare territory these days in online travel.

Travel 300
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How to Coach Reps on Overcoming Sales Objections with Confidence

Speaker: Brendan Sweeney, VP of Global Sales and David Phelan, Account Executive

In a world where buyers are more informed and objections are more nuanced, confidence isn't optional—it’s a competitive advantage. In high-stakes conversations, knowing how to handle pushback can make or break the deal. Join industry experts Brendan Sweeney and David Phelan for a behind-the-scenes look at how teams are transforming sales coaching with real-time feedback, objection-handling role plays, and pre-call preparation that actually sticks.

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Help Wanted: AHLA Fights for Hotel Jobs on Several Fronts

Lodging

Hotels face many hurdles to economic growth, but the toughest one might be finding enough employees to power that growth. America’s hotels are doing all they can to create good jobs and retain employees. Average hotel wages are near a record high, and hotels are offering more benefits and workplace flexibility than ever before. So why is it still so difficult for hotels to maintain and expand their staff?

Hotels 144
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Delta Refutes CrowdStrike’s Claims, Says Offer of Help Came Too Late

Skift Blog

Skift Take: In the latest tit-for-tat between Delta, CrowdStrike and Microsoft, Delta is claiming that CrowdStrike’s offer of onsite assistance came after it restored most of its critical systems.

Travel 284
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Noble Investment Group Acquires Courtyard by Marriott Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront

Lodging

ATLANTA, Georgia—Noble Investment Group announced the acquisition of the Courtyard by Marriott Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront. Located on the shores of Jacksonville Beach, the hotel will undergo an enhancement to all hotel guestrooms and suites, public areas, and meeting and event spaces. Jacksonville, Florida, is a growing city known for its business-friendly environment, walkable coastal community, recreational activities, and family-friendly atmosphere.

Events 144
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Hilton Slows, Disney Softens and Maui Recovers

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Today's podcast looks at Hilton preparing for a travel demand cool-off, Disney bracing for a decline in park operating income, and Maui's continued struggle toward tourism recovery.

Tourism 284
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New Research-Backed Strategies to Empower Managers as Culture & Engagement Leaders

Speaker: Beth Sunshine, SVP, Up Your Culture

When culture isn’t consistently lived out across the organization, engagement suffers—and it often starts with a disconnect at the top. In this session, Beth Sunshine, SVP of Up Your Culture at The Center for Sales Strategy, will reveal how HR and executive leaders can close the gap between vision and execution by equipping frontline and mid-level managers to become culture carriers.

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Visual Matrix’s MOP Tech Increases Adoption by 440 Percent

Lodging

RICHARDSON, Texas—Visual Matrix increased the growth of its MOP technology by 440 percent since Visual Matrix acquired the technology in November 2021. MOP is now used at more than 1,000 hotels representing 33 brands in the industry, including Wyndham, Hilton, Marriott, IHG, and more. “MOP was designed to help hoteliers overcome the many operating challenges they face today, in addition to the crunch of reduced labor,” said Georgine Muntz, CEO of Visual Matrix.

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ATEC calls for tourism and hospitality across all regional areas to benefit from WHM program

Hotel Management

The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) is calling for tourism and hospitality work across all regional areas in Australia to be included under the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa program’s qualification for second and third-year visas. The Federal Government is examining the WHM visa as part of the Review of Regional Migration Settings. ATEC is also recommending that the qualifying period for both the second and third-year visas is limited to 88 days.

Tourism 130
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This Week’s Comings & Goings

Lodging

Aimbridge Hospitality announced Christopher Tatum as the new divisional president of its Full Service division. Read more about the appointment here. Marriott International announced Sam Basu as area general manager of Puerto Rico, and concurrently to general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan. Basu will oversee Marriott’s portfolio on the island.

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How SO/ Maldives has helped Crossroads become one of Asia’s hottest new integrated resorts

Hotel Management

S Hotels and Resorts, the international hospitality company from Singha Estate recently celebrated the grand opening of SO/ Maldives , the third lifestyle resort at Crossroads Maldives, the Indian Ocean’s first and only fully-integrated leisure destination. First launched in September 2019, Crossroads Maldives is one of the most pivotal projects in the history of the Maldivian tourism industry.

Resorts 130
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Welcome to the Future of Hospitality: Smart Rooms Start Here

Speaker: Jady West, VP of Hospitality & Chris Bennett, Head of Sales & Engineering

The modern hotel room is no longer just a place to stay—it’s an experience to remember. Today’s guests expect seamless 5G connectivity, personalized comfort, and high-tech convenience. From AI-powered smart room controls to in-room entertainment and app-based services, technology is redefining hospitality from the inside out. In this new session featuring industry pros Jady West and Chris Bennett, we’ll explore how high-speed, high-bandwidth connectivity powers the innovations that are enabling

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IHG Hotels & Resorts Reports Half-Year Results

Lodging

IHG Hotels & Resorts reported half-year results ending June 30, 2024. Highlights include company performance with operating profit from reportable segments (+12 percent) and Adjusted EPS (+12 percent); record signings; on track to return over $1 billion to shareholders; and positivity in long-term growth drivers. Trading and revenue System size and pipeline Margin and profit Cash flow and net debt Shareholder returns Elie Maalouf, CEO, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said, “With thanks to our team

Resorts 144
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Hilton edges closer to 1000 APAC hotels target with 36 openings in Q2

Hotel Management

Hilton is celebrating strong growth in the Asia Pacific region with the addition of 36 hotels in the second quarter, taking its total for the region to 837 trading hotels. “Fast advancing towards our goal of 1,000 hotels in Asia Pacific by 2025, we surpassed 100 DoubleTree by Hilton properties with new openings in Osaka, Jakarta and Beijing, and celebrated over 100 Hilton Garden Inn properties trading in the region,” said Hilton President, Asia Pacific, Alan Watts.

Occupancy 130
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7 innovative strategies to supercharge your hotel’s direct bookings

eHotelier

By focusing on driving direct bookings, you can boost your revenue, strengthen your relationship with guests, and maintain full control over their experience.

Revenue 126
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Exclusive: Choice Hotels looks to corporate development and conversion strategies to drive growth

Hotel Management

In HM ’ s 2024-2025 Hotel Development Outlook, Choice Hotels Asia-Pac Head of Investments and Portfolio Growth, Trent Conroy, talks strategy to overcome current market challenges. Choice Hotels Asia-Pac anticipates strong net unit growth in 2024, despite factors causing industry uncertainty. Growth rates are subdued across the region driven by weaker than forecast inbound tourism and persistent levels of inflation and interest rates.

Scale 130
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State of AI in Sales & Marketing 2025

AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.

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Choice reports quarterly record revenues in Q2

Hotel Business

Choice Hotels International Inc. , for the second quarter, reported $435.2 million in total revenues, a quarterly record and a 2% increase vs. the same period in 2023. Net income for the quarter rose 3% to $87.1 million. “Choice Hotels generated another quarter of record financial performance amid a normalizing domestic RevPAR environment, demonstrating the strength of our versatile business model and proven growth strategy,” said Patrick Pacious, president/CEO, Choice Hotels Interna

Revenue 105
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Call for cocktails: Melbourne’s Next hotel launches mood-driven drinks experience

Hotel Management

Next Hotel Melbourne Curio Collection by Hilton has teamed up with local distillery, Melbourne Gin Company, on a limited-time cocktail experience that transcends the bar to the bedroom. The Curious Drop – which runs on Fridays and Saturdays, from 3.00pm to 6.00pm, during the month of August – offers guests the choice of five bespoke cocktails based on their ‘moods’ and the moods of Melbourne.

Intent 130
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A green oasis from Duravit

Hotel Designs

Hotel Designs A green oasis from Duravit A green oasis from Duravit A bathroom with a green colour spectrum creates a calming and relaxing atmosphere – Duravit takes a look at how the right bathroom objects, wall design, or plants can be combined to create an oasis of wellbeing… Lush meadows, dense forests, rustling leaves – green symbolises nature and provides a harmonious balance in a room.

Hotels 105
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Broken Promises? The Myth of Personalization in Hotel Loyalty

Demand Calendar

Despite the promises of personalization, these mega-chain websites and email marketing often feel generic, bordering on uninteresting, and even annoying. It seems as though the primary goal is simply to sell more rooms. The strategy resembles a scattergun approach, akin to scams, where the intent is to convert even a small percentage of a large target audience.

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Don't Let AI Pass You By: The New Era of Personalized Sales Coaching & Development

Speaker: Brendan Sweeney, VP of Sales & Devyn Blume, Sr. Account Executive

Are you curious about how artificial intelligence is reshaping sales coaching, learning, and development? Join Brendan Sweeney and Devyn Blume of Allego for an engaging new webinar exploring AI's transformative role in sales coaching and performance improvement! Brendan and Devyn will share actionable insights and strategies for integrating AI into coaching and development - ensuring personalized, effective, and scalable training!

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Toronto Hotelier Josef Ebner Announces Retirement

Hotelier Magazine

TORONTO — After an illustrious career that spans more than 60 years, working in seven countries, Josef Ebner has announced he’ll be retiring, effective Nov. 15, 2024. Ebner, who currently serves as RVP – Canada & managing director of the Chelsea Hotel Toronto, Canada’s largest hotel property, has worked in 14 properties and seven countries, but the bulk of his career was spent leading the Chelsea Hotel for the past 32 years, where he oversaw the transition of the hotel brand from Delta to Ch

Tourism 98
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Hospitality’s Tech Surge: Riding the 2024 Digital Marketing Wave

Amadeus Hospitality

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STR and Tourism Economics Maintain 2024-25 U.S. Hotel Forecast

Hotel News Resource

For 2024, projected gains in average daily rate (ADR) were downgraded 0.1 percentage points, while revenue per available room (RevPAR) was held steady at +2.0% year over year.

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Hotel budget: A complete guide to hotel budgeting

MEWS

What is a hotel budget? A hotel budget is essentially your financial roadmap, aligning with your hotel’s strategic goals to guide how you’ll spend and generate money throughout a specific period (typically a fiscal year). It’s not just a tool for the finance department; it influences decision-making across all levels of your operation and determines how resources are allocated during the budgeted timeframe.

Hotels 59
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The GTM Intelligence Era: ZoomInfo 2025 Customer Impact Report

ZoomInfo customers aren’t just selling — they’re winning. Revenue teams using our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform grew pipeline by 32%, increased deal sizes by 40%, and booked 55% more meetings. Download this report to see what 11,000+ customers say about our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform and how it impacts their bottom line. The data speaks for itself!