Dear Round-Up Readers,

Tickets are selling fast to our first event of 2024 in London, in partnership with HSMAI Europe and Women in Travel Thrive, happening THIS FRIDAY! We have an incredible panel lined-up for "A Fresh Take on Change, Adaptability and Goal Setting," all of whom have navigated change and challenges throughout their professional and personal lives ––Mazilli Restrepo Director, Luxury Sales - UK, Spain & Scandinavia, Accor; Neetu Mistry, Chief Commercial Officer, Cycas Hospitality; Kalindi Juneja, CEO, PoB Hotels; and Joanne Taylor-Stagg, General Manager, The Athenaeum. From promotions that didn't work to leading a successful corporate transformation, to personal struggles with immigration, divorce and child care––you’ll hear their stories, share yours and learn from everyone! There will be lots of time for networking, too, so don’t delay…get your tickets now!

I hope to see you! Click here or on the image below for tickets.

Looking for YOUR 🔥 hot take 🔥 on AMBITION! Has being "too ambitious" ever been an issue in your career? Has your ambition changed over time? Contributor Lan Elliot is working on an article for hertelier and we'd love to hear from YOU! Just reply to this email. On a related note, be sure not to miss the insightful article about what to do when you get passed over for a project or promotion by Kate Buhler based on her new book (see below).

OK, now to the rest of the news...

Business, Women, and Random Trends:
 

• ESG and Programs Supporting Women and Minorities are Becoming a "Dirty Word" In Corporate America 🚨 ALERT 🚨 A concerning trend, that began building steam over summer: after conservative legal activists successfully challenged the use of affirmative action by universities, they began to attack diversity initiatives widely deployed across American corporations––including cases against Amazon, Comcast and Starbucks. This week, Goldman Sachs quietly ended a $1 billion fund to support DEI investments. And, now the Wall Street Journal reports, DEI is becoming a "dirty word" as companies fear legal repercussions for diversity programs. So far, no policy changes from the big hotel companies, but we are keeping watch.
   

• Working Mom’s Viral Video Nails Why Remote Work is Important for Mothers If you needed more evidence that FLEXIBILITY is the key to retaining women in the workplace, here you go!
   

• What Is Active Listening? Being able to listen is considered one of the best communication and leadership skills. Harvard Business Review editor and best-selling business author, Amy Gallo, takes a dive into what active listening is all about and how to improve these skills.

Travel & Hospitality:

• The Biggest Innovators in Travel and Hospitality Skift held their annual "Megatrends" events in New York and London this week. Our favorite reads from the series of predictions:

  • The Biggest Innovators in Travel

  • The Ozempic Era Will Force the Travel Industry to Adapt

  • How Travel Can Fix the World's Loneliness Crisis

  • How Hotels Will Seduce the Middle-Class Traveler
     

• Innovations in Hotel Stays: How to Give Guests the Next-level Experience Interesting round-up from Tanner Saunders at The Points Guy about the most meaningful changes their editorial team would like to see from hotels. From streaming and apps to personalisation and resort fees, there are some solid ideas here!
   

• The Most Exciting Hotel Openings of 2024 from 50Best OK, I know we've shared a few of these, but this take from 50Best has some interesting new entrants.
   

• Direct Hotel Bookings Hit a New Record Phocuswire reports direct bookings soared nearly 50% in 2023 compared to 2022, hoteliers are getting smarter about capturing and using guest data to drive loyalty and repeat business. A study found three-quarters of respondents now report using customer relationship management (CRM) systems, a 40% increase from the previous year. 
   

• How Is Gen Z Reshaping Hospitality And Travel? Interesting read about Gen Z's habits from Ivana Johnston on LinkedIn.
   

• ICYMI: India and the Maldives Are Fighting Over Tourism Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, visited the Indian islands of Lakshadweep to promote tourism. The visit was perceived by some in the Maldives as an attempt to draw tourists away from the archipelago in the Indian Ocean, whose economy is heavily dependent on tourism. Read more....

On hertelier this week:

Big Welcome to Our New Subscribers! The story in Forbes, How Women Are Changing The Hotel Industry, keeps bringing new readers! Super excited to have you here. 

• Red Roof Adds Another Women-Owned Franchise with the Addition of a HomeTowne Studios in Madison, Alabama Right ON, Red Roof! The company's RIDE and SHE programs supporting women are creating hotel owners––More than 35% are women!
   

• When You Don't Opt In Columnist Nancy Mendelson unpacks a reader's question about the etiquette of opting in...or not.
   

• How to Move On After Being Passed Over Want to know how to handle rejection? Expert Kate Buhler shares her tips on how to deal with being passed over for promotions, based on insights from her new book!

Hey, don't forget: if you love reading the Round-Up, please forward this email to a friend or colleague! They can see past issues and sign up by clicking here.

Thank you for reading!

Em