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June 13, 2025
Hoteliers are feeling pessimistic, but they don't want to admit it
I wouldn't blame you for not noticing, but it's been three and a half months since my last blog about the hotel industry. And when I sat down to write that piece at the end of February, I asked what the tone of the industry would be when I came back for the 2025 NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum.
June 12, 2025
The experience of time and conversation
In this week approaching Father's Day in the U.S., I see my social media feeds crowded with a lot of really fun-looking "dad trips." I call them dad trips because they're dads and kids, grandfathers and grandkids — that kind of trip with a dad-like figure. And no, they're not all fishing trips or baseball-stadium tours or golf trips. What I'm seeing more this year are old-fashioned road trips.
June 11, 2025
From pipeline to reality: Hotel, resort openings in Africa from the past year
Every year since 2009 I have listened to and analyzed what the international and regional hotel chains say about the deals they are signing for new hotels and resorts in Africa. In March I publish the annual Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa report. And during the year, I track what actually opened — converting the pipeline deals into the cherished goal of net unit growth (NUG). Throughout the year my colleagues and I are checking what’s opening, with a final check on Dec. 31 (our idea of a good time on New Year’s Eve!).
June 11, 2025
A beacon of hope for hoteliers with three key takeaways from the NYU investment conference
The pall in the air surrounding the near-term future of the hotel industry for the first half of 2025 has unsurprisingly centered around the disruption caused by one word: tariffs. It’s led to erratic travel behavior making forecasts less predictable, the reshuffling of international flight routes (mostly into and out of the United States) and lots of investment dollars in a wait-and-see pattern that we so often call "dry powder."
June 10, 2025
Why hotel managers need to work hand in hand with sales teams
Hotel general managers excel at handling various aspects of a property's operations, from guest services to front-desk management, housekeeping logistics, and food-and-beverage procurement. Many GMs have gained experience across these departments, shaping their operational expertise.
June 9, 2025
Meghan Markle-branded hotels might be in the works
The British media is going gaga with the news that Meghan Markle is open to the idea of using her name to market hotels.
June 6, 2025
Hotel investors continue to seek free-range optimism
The mood at the New York University International Hotel Investment Forum, which took place this week at the New York Marriott Marquis, was neither overtly pessimistic nor excitedly optimistic. Industry participants were looking for upside, but the uncertainty infused into the macroeconomic picture by the on-again/off-again tariffs has put many deals on hold.
June 4, 2025
Hotel deals and financing: When's the best time to pay the PIPer?
As debt maturities come due for a hotel, the focus is understandably on interest rates, the financing stack and other deal conditions that it would take to refinance a property, as well as prevailing cap rates that inform the overall hold-sell decision.
June 3, 2025
Forever guests: Why longevity is the hospitality industry’s next big profit driver
Longevity has evolved from a personal aspiration into a global economic powerhouse, and for hospitality leaders, that represents an extraordinary opportunity.
June 2, 2025
Pedestrianizing London’s Oxford Street makes total sense
Last September, U.K.'s Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan launched a proposal to transform London’s best-known street, Oxford Street, into a pedestrian-only thoroughfare.
May 29, 2025
Where has all the brand inspiration gone?
This week, Southwest Airlines killed its free-checked-bags policy. Early next year, the popular lower-cost airline will end its open seating policy in favor of assigned seats and fees for premium seating. Will the flight attendants still tell jokes though? Probably.
May 28, 2025
Summer of 2025: Navigating the economy, finances, marketing and operations in the hotel industry
The hospitality industry is heading into summer 2025 with a mix of opportunities and challenges. Economic shifts, technological advancements and evolving guest preferences continue to shape hotel operations and revenue strategies. While disposable income is slowing, savings remain high. Consumer sentiment has taken a hit, yet there are no clear indicators of a recession. The stock market remains turbulent, with periods of downturn. Inflation has stabilized at 3% to 4%, though lingering concerns about tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty remain.
May 21, 2025
Train your team to deliver EPIC hospitality
The word “epic” has found its place in the vernacular of our daily lives. It’s the name of so many “epic” things, such as an Orlando theme park, an international ski pass, a company that produces popular video games and another providing digital access to children’s books. What’s more, it has arguably one of the most popular descriptive words used by younger generations as an adjective, adverb and noun.
May 21, 2025
Policy gaps, not short term rentals, fuel the real problem with overtourism
Spring brought with it that other annual season: protesting against Airbnb. Hundreds of thousands of people marched in Spain and with them came demands from residents around the world for action against the perceived impact of the vacation rental platform.
May 20, 2025
How cost segregation can boost cash flow and slash tax bills for hotel owners
In the competitive hospitality sector, achieving financial efficiency and effective tax planning is vital. Hotel ownership presents unique opportunities to enhance cash flow and minimize tax obligations, particularly through the implementation of cost segregation. This article delves into the nuances of cost segregation, their significant advantages for the hospitality and lodging industry and how they can be utilized to optimize financial outcomes.
May 19, 2025
UK hoteliers must reevaluate recruitment strategies in light of new immigration proposals
The United Kingdom is a small country with a large population.
May 15, 2025
Why local hotel fundamentals still win in a macro-obsessed market
Macroeconomic noise is everywhere — anyone taking even a passing glance at the news will see stories about elevated interest rates, sticky inflation, global tension and tariff-related uncertainty.
May 14, 2025
The growth of luxury resorts with multimodal wellness itineraries
Hospitals and hospitality have been converging for decades, slowly at first with hotspots in the Alps and Dolomites, now with huge acceleration post-COVID. From red light therapy (RLT) and ice plunges to fitness programs and nutrition-focused food and beverage offerings, wellness is becoming a powerful differentiator across all hotel segments, with major global chains like Accor making it a core part of their brand essence.
May 12, 2025
Hundred-year-old hotel yacht to ply England’s Lake Windermere
The 30-room Langdale Chase Hotel, which sits beside Lake Windermere in England’s famed Lake District, has unveiled a new toy for guests: a restored, 1920’s motor yacht named Albatros.
May 9, 2025
Remember to be 'an employer of choice' always
The demand outlook for the U.S. hotel industry this year doesn't exactly look too hot right now, and I'm hoping as hotel company leaders figure out their new plans, they remember their commitments made to employees.