EC designates Booking.com as a “gatekeeper” - Reason for Hotels to Celebrate? On May 13, 2024, the European Commission (EC) designated Booking as a "gatekeeper", similar to how it previously branded Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, TikTok, etc. "Holidaymakers will start benefiting from more choice and hotels will have more business opportunities," declared Margrethe Vestager, EC's Executive Vice-President in charge of competition policy. One of the results of this designation by EC is that Booking can no longer include rate parity clauses in its agreements with hotels ..read more

How data science can transform conventional hotel hierarchies Surprisingly, many hotel groups and brands have yet to integrate data scientists into their core marketing and IT teams despite the explosive growth of data-driven decision-making in other industries. These hotel groups seem entrenched in traditional, hierarchical organizational structures that are not conducive to integrating data science, as these rigid frameworks often lack the flexibility required to incorporate and fully utilize innovative analytical roles. The absence of specialized data professionals mean ..read more

The Future of revenue managers in the age of AI Co-pilots: Evolution, revolution or goodbye revenue managers? In the rapidly evolving landscape of hospitality revenue management, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged not just as a tool, but as a potential co-pilot. Where it started out as handling complex data analysis, forecasting, and giving recommendations for the decision-making process, it soon moved to automation and finally contextualization. As AI technology advances, the hospitality industry must consider how to best integrate these tools with human expertise to enhance both opera ..read more

Cracking the code: How hotels can gauge the why behind clicks, bookings and upgrades In a complex distribution ecosystem where players compete to “own the guest,” hospitality companies direct significant resources to move guests toward a desired action—make a (preferably direct) reservation, join a loyalty program, sign up for a credit card or upgrade a room. Hoteliers have long operated with a general picture of what people value in their stays but continue to struggle with understanding why given marketing tactics yield specific results. Their ability to zoom in to the details beh ..read more

What are the best practices when calculating group rates? Our Industry Expert Panel exists out of professionals within the hospitality & travel Industry. They have comprehensive and detailed knowledge, experience in practice or management and are forward-thinking. They are answering questions about the state of the industry. They share their insights on topics like revenue management, marketing, operations, technology and discuss the latest trends. A new approach to hotel management fees In the ever-evolving hospitality industry, the question of how to effectively compensate hotel operat ..read more

The balancing act: The symbiotic relationship between hotel asset management and revenue optimization As we view this unique relationship between owner representatives and revenue leaders, let’s explore why there are still silos today, discover ways to overcome the communication gaps, and better understand how the two groups can take advantage of the strengths each brings to the table to fully optimize the asset value. Navigating challenges of AI and maximizing value in the service sector Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing not only traditional sectors but also reshaping the very esse ..read more

The future of luxury experiences: Where luxury meets hospitality The luxury industry is undergoing a phase of transformation. While in the past few used to buy luxury items, many more people are now spending their money on high-end brands. Evidence of this can be seen, for example, with the French fashion house Hermès. The market value of Hermès was $199 billion at the end of August. That's over 28% more than the $155 billion Nike brand. Of course, Hermès products are much more expensive, but Nike is a very popular brand and most people have a Nike T-shirt, pair of sneakers or gym bag in ..read more

2023 European hotel transactions HVS discusses the main hotel transactions that took place in 2023 and looks at the trends in single-asset and portfolio transactions over the years. Gaining control of utility costs Over the past four years, utility costs at U.S. hotels have increased at a pace greater than total operating revenue. As a result, utility department expenses increased from 2.9 percent of total revenue in 2019 to an estimated 3.3 percent in 2023. As hotels have struggled to recover from the pandemic, any rise in cost ratios is an area of concern for owners and operators. The good ..read more

The risks of ignoring revenue management’s budget advice Our Industry Expert Panel exists out of professionals within the hospitality & travel Industry. They have comprehensive and detailed knowledge, experience in practice or management and are forward-thinking. They are answering questions about the state of the industry. They share their insights on topics like revenue management, marketing, operations, technology and discuss the latest trends. How to manage cultural diversity in hospitality - A quick guide In this article, we’ll explore some of the many benefits of cultural diversity ..read more

The Benefits of a Small Hotel Management Company The benefits of a large hotel management company may seem obvious. However, when choosing a management company for your hotel, consider looking beyond the obvious and evaluating whether a more personalized and strategic approach is appropriate for your hotel investment goals. This article outlines the benefits of selecting a small hotel management company for the day-to-day operation of your hotel. ITB Berlin 2024 Hotelier's Recap AI innovations took center stage at ITB Berlin highlighting a transformative shift across the hotel industry towar ..read more