Skift Blog
APRIL 6, 2023
Skift Take: Recent advancements in artificial intelligence have the potential to transform sectors across the travel industry. This newsletter will keep you informed every step of the way.
Lodging
APRIL 3, 2023
Despite the overall U.S. economy adding 517,000 jobs at the beginning of 2023, the leisure and hospitality sector remains understaffed with two million open jobs, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Meanwhile, 79 percent of hoteliers say their hotels are understaffed, and 81 percent are unable to fill open positions, according to American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) research.
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Anthony Cole Training
APRIL 6, 2023
There are five pillars that make up a strong Sales Managed Environment which in turn will help you build a consistent, championship-quality sales team.
Hotel Management
APRIL 4, 2023
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour has officially opened its new luxury spa, inviting guests and Sydneysiders alike to experience its holistic wellness offering. Set across two levels overlooking Darling Harbour, Sofitel Spa Darling Harbour features seven spacious treatment rooms including two suites, designed by PikeWithers, an infrared sauna, contemplation deck and relaxation lounge.
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.
Skift Blog
APRIL 5, 2023
Skift Take: Buying up smaller agencies has now become the tried-and-tested method of expansion for Navan, the corporate travel agency formerly known as TripActions. But this approach is highly relevant in India, with its mostly offline corporate travel booking practices.
Lodging
APRIL 3, 2023
Most hospitality executives will acknowledge the industry’s property-level labor problems didn’t start with the pandemic, but the shutdown that occurred as a result certainly took the issue to another level, with many workers leaving never to return. So, as we reach three years since the outbreak of the pandemic, what has been the overall impact of a well-documented labor shortage on an industry built around personal service and human interaction?
Hotel Sales Focus brings together the best content for hotel sales and marketing professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Hotel Management
APRIL 2, 2023
The Star Sydney CEO and Group Head of Transformation, Scott Wharton, is stepping down later this month to accept a role outside of the business, prompting a leadership restructure at The Star Entertainment Group. Wharton, a former Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) executive, announced his resignation, eight months after being appointed. He will vacate the position on April 28, 2023.
Skift Blog
APRIL 2, 2023
Skift Take: With over 25,000 miles of Inca Main Road to explore, alternative routes to the world-famous Machu Picchu Inca citadel trek are being scouted. And it's long overdue.
Lodging
APRIL 3, 2023
The last few years have been anything but “business as usual” for the hospitality industry. After suffering its worst year on record in 2020, global tourism grew by a staggering 60 percent in 2022 and is projected to increase another 30 percent in 2023, according to a report from Economist Intelligence. But perhaps more important than the rate at which guests are now traveling, COVID-19 has changed both how and why they travel.
Social Hospitality
APRIL 2, 2023
In business, there are things you need to do to be successful. One is to produce the best products and provide the best service possible. Another is to have pricing that is competitive within your market. Skilled, dedicated employees are also vital and you want to be sure they are well-compensated and motivated. Having a solid plan for now and for the future is also essential.
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.
Hotel Management
APRIL 6, 2023
Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director International Operations, Wyndham Destinations Travel and Leisure Co. looks ahead to another successful year with the continued growth of Club Wyndham vacation clubs, major hotel openings, and elevated customer experiences. Our international region consists of some 71,000 vacation club members, approximately 75 resorts and operations across 13 countries.
Skift Blog
APRIL 4, 2023
Skift Take: When you have a goal as ambitious as Saudi Arabia's 100 million tourists by 2030, you would surely ensure that travel companies in the country are profitable.
Lodging
APRIL 7, 2023
Boasting its largest trade show ever and a number of new initiatives, AAHOACON ’23 promises to be “historic on a number of levels” when it kicks off next week in Los Angeles, according to AAHOA (The Asian American Hotel Owners Association) President/CEO Laura Lee Blake. Presiding over her first AAHOACON after taking the helm of the association in May of 2022, AAHOA’s Blake told LODGING that the 32nd annual event—which takes place from April 11-14—is […] The post Upcoming AAHOACON ’23 Poise
Social Hospitality
APRIL 4, 2023
Every social media manager dreads when a negative comment or review appears on one of their brand’s social media accounts. It can feel like a personal attack, and the pressure to respond quickly and appropriately can be overwhelming. We know firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate a crisis. But over time, we learned effective strategies for managing these situations.
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
Hotel Management
APRIL 6, 2023
Crown Melbourne welcomes popular Greek chef Giannis Kalyvas – also known as The Real Greek Chef – to host a three-week long pop-up at its Evergreen dining space. Commencing on April 28 and running until May 21, The Real Greek Chef will offer diners a family-style menu of shared plates with authentic Greek flavours using fresh Australian produce. Giannis, a chef, content creator, and restaurant consultant, moved to Australia in 2017 and quickly gained popularity in Melbourne’s hospitality scene f
Skift Blog
APRIL 6, 2023
Skift Take: Although some travelers are committed to making their trips greener, the travel industry has struggled to take advantage of that desire due to its inability to provide more affordable and practical sustainable trip options.
Lodging
APRIL 6, 2023
The U.S. hotel industry has made many strides since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2023 has been off to a strong start. At the beginning of the year, STR reported that revenues and profits reached highest-ever levels during 2022, and CBRE increased its hotel performance forecast to account for expected GDP growth during the coming year.
Social Hospitality
APRIL 2, 2023
In business, there are things you need to do to be successful. One is to produce the best products and provide the best service possible. Another is to have pricing that is competitive within your market. Skilled, dedicated employees are also vital and you want to be sure they are well-compensated and motivated. Having a solid plan for now and for the future is also essential.
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
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.
Hotel Management
APRIL 6, 2023
Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport has introduced a vegetable garden in partnership with cosmetics provider, Vanity Group, alongside the launch of a bulk amenities range at the hotel. Vanity Group is supporting the hotel in meeting its sustainability goals by sponsoring the installation of a vegetable garden on the hotel grounds and replacing single-use amenities with 500ml bottles Soak Superfood Skincare throughout the property – The vegetables and herbs harvested from the garden will be used
Skift Blog
APRIL 6, 2023
Skift Take: In the event of a national TikTok ban, U.S. tourism agencies will have to massively increase their investment in Google and Meta companies after losing access to an audience of millions of people around the world.
Lodging
APRIL 5, 2023
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—U.S. hotel gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) exceeded the pre-pandemic comparable and was the highest since October 2022, according to STR’s February 2023 P&L data release. EBITDA was the only key bottom-line metric on a per-available-room basis to come in lower than February 2019. U.S, Hotel Performance GOPPAR: $77.37 (up 1.6 percent)TRevPAR: $217.20 (up 3.7 percent)EBITDA PAR: $51.63 (down 0.6 percent)LPAR (Labor Costs): $73.70 (up 2.9 perce
Hotel Financial Coach Blog
APRIL 2, 2023
Click on image to learn more The Uniformed System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry Coming Soon – The Prosperous Hotelier Complimentary Discovery Call – [link] Video Course Links: [link] [link] [link] Be sure to check out my other services on the links below. On-line Strategic Hospitality Financial Leadership Workshops The 3 Month 1-1 Financial Leadership Mentoring Program Hotel Accounting Policy Manuals Hotel Asset Management Program Strategic Hospitality Financial Leadership Workshop
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.
Hotel Management
APRIL 4, 2023
Global fund manager Salter Brothers is furthering its investments in the hospitality industry with the acquisition of Milton Park Country House Hotel and Spa. Located in Bowral in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, the 44-room property was once owned by acclaimed hotelier and founder of Aman Resorts, Adrian Zecha. Dating back to 1910, Milton Park was built and run as a cattle farm by department store pioneers the Hordern family and later the Baillieu family, before opening as a hotel in
Skift Blog
APRIL 2, 2023
Skift Take: Can the new artificial intelligence software’s travel recommendations be taken as gospel? Perhaps yes, but for now, let’s leverage the power of the human instead of the alternate human.
Lodging
APRIL 7, 2023
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—Aligned with normal Spring Break patterns, U.S. hotel performance showed mixed comparisons from the previous week, according to STR’s latest data through April 1, 2023. U.S. Hotel Performance March 26-April 1, 2023 Percentage change from comparable weeks in 2022, 2019:Occupancy: 66.2 percent (up 3.4 percent, down 3.5 percent)ADR: $158.40 (up 7.3 percent, up 19.9 percent)RevPAR: $104.78 (up 10.9 percent, up 15.7 percent) Among the Top 25 Markets, Washington, D.C.,
Hotel Speak
APRIL 4, 2023
The concept of what makes a luxury brand an attractive option worth buying into is undergoing a massive mind shift. This is especially true for the future luxury consumers, often referred to as the Millennials and Gen Z, or even more precisely HENRYs (‘High earners, not rich yet’). A 20+ years’ supply of new customers to be precise. This younger group of would-be spenders are developing a different approach to the idea of what a luxury brand should entail compared to the older generations of con
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!
Hotel Management
APRIL 4, 2023
The Asia-Pacific Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE) is expanding to new markets around the globe with the launch of a South East Asia edition this week. Over 100 hotel industry VIPs – from KSL, Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Shangri-La, Far East, JLL, CBRE, Interface, Accor and more – gathered for a cocktail event at the JW Marriott Singapore South Beach on Tuesday April 4 to celebrate the launch of a South East Asia edition of AHICE, which will take place in February 2024.
Skift Blog
APRIL 6, 2023
Skift Take: Two out of three staff members at Martigny Boutique-Hotel in Switzerland are people with intellectual disabilities. We could all learn a lesson or two from the hotel's inclusive workplace and how the property maintains boutique standards.
Lodging
APRIL 5, 2023
LAGUNA BEACH, California—Soul Community Planet (SCP) announced the acquisition of the Albion River Inn, a boutique hotel located in Mendocino County on the Northern California coast. The property, to be renamed the SCP Mendocino Coast Lodge, marks the brand’s fourth coastal California property. The SCP Mendocino Coast Lodge will be operated in conjunction with the nearby SCP Mendocino Inn & Farm, which SCP acquired in June 2022.
eHotelier
APRIL 5, 2023
By hyper-personalising your campaigns to specific audiences, you are able to increase your conversion rates, powering your upselling, and at the same time increasing your guest loyalty.
Speaker: Lauren Fernandez - CEO & Founder, Full Course
Companies all over the world, including Marriot International and Hilton Worldwide, are aware of the value of including DEI in their talent acquisition strategy. However, despite these initiatives, there is still plenty that the hospitality sector can do to promote DEI. When comparing the hospitality industries in India, Iraq, the UK, and the US, you will see that there is a consistent underrepresentation of persons from different ethnic, gender, and disability origins across all levels of the i
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