the weekly Round-Up

Dear Round-Up Readers,

 

It is school break in the UK, so with my Mom and 17-year old son, Lukie, we took a quick three-day trip to the iconic Dolder Grand in Zurich, Switzerland. The historic hotel has welcomed everyone from Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, and Elizabeth Taylor to Leonardo DiCaprio and Oprah…and now us!

 

It's hard to find a place that really works for three generations and The Dolder Grand, which is perched above Zurich where none of us had been before, was a hit! Top reasons we loved it: the 43,000 (!) sq ft spa and gym, the peaceful Swiss scenery, and the food–– especially the CHOCOLATE! The main part of The Dolder Grand looks like a castle and was originally built in 1899, a dramatic renovation in 2006 by famed architect Norman Foster, created the bulk of the guest rooms, which are modern, tasteful and offer stunning views. The hotel is filled with more than 100 + pieces of museum quality artwork, which you can learn about through a self-guided QR code tour that my Mom loved.

 

A highlight for me was meeting Regina Baumberger, and you can read her First Job POV: Marketing an Iconic Resort, The Dolder Grand. Love to hear from women on their way up and what motivates them!  

 

What a privilege to have a holiday, although hard to reconcile with what is happening in the Middle East. As promised, due to the complexity of the situation, I am only sharing stories that impact business and shed light on hate crimes around the world.
 

  •  Economists fear Major Disruption if the Israel-Hamas Conflict is Not Contained CNBC reports on ways the region impacts the global economy: "one, a very crucial supplier of energy, and secondly ... it is the key shipping passageway for global trade." And lists companies (many are in travel) which will be affected.
     

  • The Murky Logic of Companies’ Israel-Hamas Statements When are businesses meant to get involved in world affairs? The Atlantic notes that 41 percent of consumers said businesses should take a stand on current events, according to a poll from Gallup and Bentley University, down from 48 percent last year. Some of the pressure to speak out comes from the role that business leaders play in a time of deteriorating trust in politicians, media, and the clergy. “CEOs have become pillars of trust in society.”
     

  • How to Combat Hate During the Israel-Hamas Conflict Antisemitic and Islamaphobic incidents have almost doubled in just over a week in London, according to Reuters. Forbes offers 4 tips on how to combat hate in the workplace.
     

  • Two good podcasts: What is Netanyahu's next move? on The News Agents and the War Briefing from the New York Times.

     

Before we get to the rest of the news, RIP Matthew Perry, sad to lose this incredibly talented "Friend" way too soon...

Business, Women, and Random Trends:
 

  • Iceland’s First Full-Day Women’s Strike in 48 Years Iceland, which already has the lowest gender pay gap in the world, is aiming to do better. The PM Katrín Jakobsdóttir, gathered along with 100,000 citizens (more than a quarter of the total population) calling for the country’s wage gap to be closed and an end to gender-based and sexual violence. Women on average earned 21% less than men in 2022, according to Statistics Iceland. The strike caused widespread disruption across the country, with schools and kindergartens closed across Iceland and just one bank staying open.
     

  • Roe v. Wade Is Gone, but Abortions Are on the Rise New abortion bans have done little to reduce frequency of the procedure, according to new data reported in the Wall Street Journal. The ban has just made it harder and more expensive. {Sigh}
     

  • Menopause Support Going Mainstream Microsoft Corp., Palantir Technologies Inc., and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. are among a small but increasing number of US businesses offering menopause benefits, with women most likely to be affected now representing 20% of the female workforce. Menopause-related loss of productivity and medical expenses are costing the US economy $26.6 billion a year, a report from Mayo Clinic showed. Read more in Bloomberg (paywall).
     

  • Best Practices for Engaging a Multigenerational Workforce The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that almost one in four workers will be age 55 or older by 2031 and that age 65-plus workers represent the fastest-growing segment of the workforce. Harvard Business Review offers five tips for running a company that spans generational needs.

Travel & Hospitality:

 

  • Rosewood CEO Sonia Cheng: ‘The key is to design a hotel that doesn’t feel like a hotel’ Read this interview in the Financial Times about how Sonia Cheng built an empire of hospitality that is expanding and innovating. Interesting to see the hate in comments section. Yes, she was afforded opportunities by her family, but she has made her own way and achieved well beyond what was given! Are sons are treated differently by the public? What do you think?
     

  • Hotel Brands Q3 Earnings Calls:

    • Accor Now Expects Its 2023 Hotel Performance to Exceed Forecasts

    • Net Growth Still Priority for Hilton as Latest Brands Debut in Third Quarter CEO Chris Nassetta hints at new luxury lifestyle brand for 2024.

    • Wyndham Says No, Choice: During the company's Q3 earnings call Wyndham Hotels & Resorts executives slammed Choice's unsolicited bid to buy the company for $8 billion, calling the proposition "desperate."
       

  • Hilton Celebrates Fifth Consecutive Year as #1 Best Workplace for Women in the US according to the Best Workplaces for Women U.S. list by Fortune and Great Place to Work. Congrats Hilton!
     

  • Sounds Good: Beyoncé Bump and What Happens When Taylor Swift Eats at Your Restaurant Female entertainers continue to drive business... markets from Cardiff to Houston were impacted by Beyoncé's world tour and Vulture interviews NYC restaurant workers where T. Swift has been, "She Eats, She Pays, She Gets the F– Out."

     

  • The Most-Anticipated Hotel Openings for the Remainder of 2023 With more new hotels opening than in 2022, Costar takes a look at what new properties we can still look forward to this year.
     

  • The 2023 Family Travel Association (FTA) Annual Family Travel Survey Highlights Post-Pandemic Trends, Positive Attitudes, and Opportunities for Growth The scarcity of family rooms or connected rooms in hotels is one issue that has cropped up, read more here.

     

  • How Hotels Treat Employees in London vs. Las Vegas: The Caterer reports that in London, the Savoy Hotel invested £300,000 in staff facilities amid the rise in competition at luxury hotels (we reported on "'family meal' as perks that matter.") Meanwhile in Las Vegas, Fast Company profiles two hotel workers in: "Canceled lunch breaks and bad pay: Why Las Vegas hotel workers are ready to strike."
     

  • New Rule to Impact Franchisors Reuters reports the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Thursday issued a final rule making it easier for workers and unions to hold companies liable for labor law violations by their franchisees. NLRB will treat companies as so-called "joint employers" when they have control, even if it is indirect or not exercised, over essential terms and conditions of employment such as pay, scheduling, hiring and firing, and supervision. Pay attention "asset light" hotel brands.

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. 

 

  • Hyatt UK & Ireland "Celebrate our Sisters" and launch HyVersity, as Part of Black History Month Hyatt UK & Ireland celebrates women and Black History Month with a new "HyVersity" workshop focused on inclusion.

     

  • Sustainability Pioneers: How OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group is Leading the Way with VP Monica Salter OUTRIGGER has a deep commitment to sustainability, we learn about the origins and efforts from VP Monica Salter.
     

  • First Job POV: Marketing an Iconic Resort with Regina Baumberger, The Dolder Grand The first job after university can be a big leap for a new grad. We chat with Regina about her move into hotel marketing.

Stuff to Download!

 

  • Watch 1,000 drones fly over Central Park in stunning aerial art performance on CNN.
     

  • What it Takes to Operate at Peak Personal Performance Hospitality Daily interviews Melissa Maher, CEO of Pinnacle Enterprises Group. In less than 10 minutes and Melissa offers great tips on personal branding and building self confidence!!

 

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! Have a great week!

 

Em

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