This week started with long weekends on both sides of the Atlantic, in the US with Memorial Day honoring military personnel, and in the UK it was a bank holiday combined with a week off of school.

We took our first holiday since last summer and it was fantastic to be back in hotels!  Driving up to Scotland from London by way of Yorkshire, we stayed in a range of properties—a budget-friendly ibis from Accor, voco, a cool new brand from IHG, and a five-star independent, the Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews, part of Preferred—all were busy and well-staffed, looking pristine or finishing off renovations.  

This time of year usually marks the beginning of the busy summer travel season, and though there is nothing usual about this year, we are starting to see positive signs—hotels are open or soon to open, people are booking travel, and some borders are re-opening. With everything so dynamic the only constant seems to be change... so we will do our best to help you by summarizing the big headlines!

• US summer travelers are "keen but cautious," according to a new study by Deloitte, 40% of Americans are planning leisure trips this summer, so "revenge travel" is a thing despite lingering concerns about traveling during COVID.  Interestingly, less than a third of travelers had solidified their summer bookings which means lots of travel spending is still up for grabs.  
• US hotels are busy but travelers are out of practice and confused. Hilton had its best weekend since 2019 according to CEO Christopher Nassetta on CNBC, "Hilton hotels were 93% occupied on the Saturday night" of the holiday weekend.  Brian Kelly of The Points Guy was also on CNBC talking about crowded airports, aggressive behavior from people not wanting to wear masks, and general inconsistencies around CDC guidance for planes versus hotels, restaurants, and shops.
• Europe remains confusing for summer travel.  According to CNN, the EU Commission has introduced a digital Covid-19 certificate for travel (open to non-EU citizens), and various countries in the EU are planning to open in June and July for vaccinated travelers, but things can change, as they have recently in the UK where Portugal was "green" but it will move back to "amber" on June 8.  

Here's what happened on hertelier:

• We started the holiday week with a dose of wellness, an interview with the inspiring Diana Stobo, author, entrepreneur, and founder of The Retreat Costa Rica.  Read the incredible story of how she turned losing 100 pounds into a thriving wellness empire.  
• Advice columnist Nancy Mendelson helps a reader with a boss who likes to take credit for everyone else's work. Has this ever happened to you?  Nancy offers some sage advice on dealing with a toxic boss.
• We introduced a new feature, which we hope to run often, You Can't Spell Hero without HER. Macarena San Martin, Front Office Manager at the Hilton London Wembley, volunteered with the NHS, helped the homebound elderly, and picked up litter in her local parks during lockdown/furlough, read why she is just one of those people that make you want to be a better person!
• If you didn't check out our UK General Managers Zoom roundtable, these videos offer a candid snapshot of what UK hoteliers are dealing with after being shut for so many months. 

We welcome your feedback, concerns, and especially your questions.  If you have any questions about your job (or life) send them to Nancy (nancy@nemglobal.com).  Benefit from her years of experience and therapy!

Thank you for your support--reading, liking, and sharing our stories of women rocking the hotel industry!  If you have a friend or colleague that you think would enjoy hertelier please forward this email, anyone can sign up by clicking here or the button below.

Have a great week, 

Emily