Weekly Roundup #20: Travel, Tech and Social Media

Week 20/2018
As always, Friday equals our blog’s new Weekly Roundup, so here we are with a fresh dose of hospitality news and stories! It’s been an exciting week for us and you’ll see why, but we have also focused on what generally went on in the industry. Take a look at the headlines below and don’t forget to follow our social media accounts, for even more interesting content and updates: we are on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram!
Until the next one, we wish you a wonderful weekend!

Industry News
New Hotel Tech Stack eBook Explores the Impact of Technology Throughout the Guest Journey:
We’re excited to announce that this week, we released our latest eBook, “The Hotelier’s Tech Stack Guide: Must-have Technologies That Impact The Guest Journey”. This eBook breaks down the technologies and software that modern hoteliers need to use to succeed in a digital age. It also emphasizes their impact on all phases of the guest journey, from the initial booking to post-stay ROI measurement. The Hotelier’s Tech Guide speaks to both independent and chain hoteliers and it provides them with insightful information about hotel technologies that determine the success of a guest experience, as well as a hotel’s overall operations, reputation, and revenue management. The eBook is divided into four chapters, the first three of them follow the guest journey. Every chapter includes in-depth descriptions of must-have systems that impact each phase. The eBook is available for free download here.
AccorHotels To Buy Chile’s Atton Hoteles:
AccorHotels’ acquisition spree continues and the group announced on Monday it has partnered with Chilean investment group Algeciras to purchase Atton Hoteles, a hospitality group with 11 hotels in Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Florida, for $105 million. Atton specializes in midscale and upscale hotels that cater to business travelers and also has three additional hotels under development. Existing Atton hotels will be rebranded eventually to Accor’s Pullman, Novotel, MGallery, and Mercure brands. In addition to acquiring Atton Hoteles, AccorHotels and Algeciras are investing in Atton’s property ownership company, PropCo, which owns its 11 hotels. AccorHotels will acquire 20 percent, and Algeciras will buy up 80 percent.
Apple Leisure Partners With NH Hotels To Expand All-Inclusive Brands In Europe:
Pennsylvania-based company Apple Leisure Group, announced Thursday it has entered into a strategic partnership with Madrid-based NH Hotel Group to jointly operate a number of beachfront resorts in Spain. Apple’s AMResorts division will oversee management and sales of the hotels, while NH will maintain operational management. The first four hotels under the partnership are slated to open in 2019 in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and Mallorca and they will all be conversions of existing properties. NH Hotel Group is well established throughout Europe, with nearly 400 hotels in 30 different countries, many of which are located in major cities. AMResorts is known for its upscale all-inclusive resorts, many of which are located throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. It currently has 52 properties and has plans to open 20 more over the next few years.

Trends and Insights
U.S. News & World Report And Best Western Hotels & Resorts Release Second Annual Hotel Loyalty Program Study:
An insight report commissioned by Best Western Hotels & Resorts and executed by U.S. News & World Report's Marketing and Business Intelligence Teams revealed key indicators for how travelers choose the best possible loyalty program, as well as what drives them to book with one hotel brand versus another. The results, gathered from nearly 1,400 respondents, were released during Best Western's Leisure Travel Summit in New York City. The study found that for 74% of travelers, a brand's loyalty program is the most significant factor in determining where they stay. In addition, more than 70 percent of respondents rated Best Western Rewards (BWR) as their preferred loyalty program in the industry, reflecting the unsurpassed value today's BWR offers its loyalty members.
Expedia Study Reveals Key Trends In ‘Booming’ Bleisure Travel Sector:
New research conducted by Expedia Group Media Solutions has found 60% of corporate travelers globally extend their trips to add some leisure activities. The study underlines the so-called ‘bleisure’ phenomenon that is seeing an increasing blending of business and leisure travel. Expedia commissioned the multi-national study that was conducted by Luth Research and covered American, British, Chinese, German, and Indian travelers. The results of the “Unpacking Bleisure Traveler Trends” report were released at the annual Phocuswright Europe conference in Amsterdam. It found bleisure travelers take more than six business trips per year, and more than 60% of business trips during the last year were extended for leisure purposes.
U.S. Millennials Most Likely To Take & Spend More On Vacations This Year:
Millennials are more likely than older Americans to take a vacation this summer than last summer, based on their household finances, according to a new survey from Travelport (NYSE: TVPT). The 2018 Travelport U.S. Vacation Survey of approximately 1500 U.S. residents reveals Millennials (ages 18-34 years old) are most likely to spend more on their upcoming vacations than other age groups, with one out of three Millennials willing to spend $5000 or more on their vacations. Overall, over one-third of Americans (38%) are more likely to take a vacation this summer compared to last summer. Millennials' optimism about taking vacations, however, is not fully shared by Americans aged 35 and up: More than half of Millennials (56%) plan to travel more this summer compared to summer 2017, in contrast to 35% of Gen X respondents (ages 35-54 years old) and 22% of Baby Boomers (ages 55+).

Technology
Hoteliers Remain In A ‘Holding Stage’ Assessing The Best Tech Trends:
A new report from SiteMinder has revealed the key focuses and drivers of success for hoteliers across the globe. In its annual global survey, SiteMinder asked hoteliers, from both independents and groups, in all regions around the world to evaluate their priorities, challenges, strategies, and sentiments on everything from distribution plans, budgeting, staff hiring, technology adoption, and of course, future success. A huge majority (95%) of respondents said their perspective on technology has changed – 49% admitting they now fully embrace technology and 46% saying they now realise it is a necessity. Only 5% maintain that technology adoption is not a priority for them, or they’re unwilling to explore it. More findings from the survey can be found in this article or the full report.
High Tech Hotels Are Using Robots Around The Nation To Make Customer Service Easier:
At dozens of hotels, robots are making life easier for employees and guests. Alina the robot makes free deliveries at the Luma Hotel Times Square in New York. The robot tends to 7,463 guests, requesting items like more bath products or extra towels. Here's how it works: A front desk employee loads the robot up and types in the destination, then it's off to deliver to a guest. The robots even call for their own elevator using the hotel's Wi-Fi system and then guests get a phone call when the robot is at the door. The robot at this hotel is one of more than 60 currently being used in U.S. hotels, made by a company called Savioke (Savvy Oak). Other high tech additions are becoming more common at properties like a virtual concierge wall at the Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel. Marriott is also working on "smart rooms" that respond to voice commands, but hospitality experts say tech will never replace the human touch.