When did January become the busiest month of the year, Round-Up Readers?? The last two weeks have been non-stop...conferences, meet ups, and our first “Morning Shift” event of 2024…and the panel discussion was incredible! More than 40 women––and one ally!––gathered at The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences (gorgeous venue) for a discussion about change and adaptability. Let's just start with the fact that the panel was so engaging, we ran way over our allotted hour… EVERYONE STAYED, then got involved in the Q & A for another half hour and kept talking and networking until noon! What seems to be a hallmark of hertelier events is REAL, honest conversation and learning from each other without judgement. So much applause and camaraderie, as many shared already on LinkedIn, it was a fantastic and motivating way to kick off the weekend!! We'll be sharing highlights this week, as well as keeping you posted on the other hertelier events we’re planning throughout the year. Huge thanks to our amazing panel: 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. And to our sponsors: Accor, The Athenaeum, The Hotels Network, and Thynk; and our partners: Women in Travel Thrive and HSMAI Europe. Both the Skift Megatrends and SmartFlyer CORE Conferences happened in London in the last two weeks, as well, and I attended both! Actually included my key takeaways here, then realised they deserved their own post – so stay tuned!!! See what I mean, January is only 3/4s done and so much has happened! Also, it was my son's 18th birthday yesterday! Are you headed to ALIS in Los Angeles this week? AHLA ForWard is holding a reception on Tuesday, January 23, at 5:45 pm at the JW Marriott, honouring Leslie Hale, CEO of RLJ Lodging trust! Sign up here. OK, now to the rest of the news... |
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Business, Women, and Random Trends:
Women Lose and So Do Countries: the Hidden Cost of Unpaid Caregiving Women who work the same number of years as men and in the same role are consistently ending up with less — to the tune of an estimated $295,000, on average, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The figure reflects the costs to women’s earnings and retirement when they take time off to care for children or loved ones. The gap only widens for women of color whose wealth accumulation efforts are commonly hindered by lower wages and systemic bias.
Women aren’t the only ones who suffer, economists have continually highlighted that nations are less competitive when women take time off for caregiving: economic output, workplace productivity and diversity improve when women are retained in the labor market. Researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis estimate the United States could add $1.7 trillion annually to the gross domestic product by addressing gender gaps in earnings, employment and hours worked. WaPo looks at the cost of caregiving around the world.
Can Japan "Spark Joy" on Corporate Boards by Adding More Women? Japan has set a goal to have more than 30% female board member’s in organisations listed on the top-tier Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2030. Watch this interview on BBC with the organising phenom herself, Marie Kondo, who has inspired millions to take up the "KonMari" method, tossing items that don't "spark joy." She’s sold more than 13 million books, translated into 44 languages and has over four million Instagram followers.
Network Like the Davos Elite: Crash Parties, Escape Dull Chitchat and Make Powerful Friends Fun read in the Wall Street Journal on the elbow-rubbing tactics on display in the Swiss Alps this week. Tips on how you can apply these moves to any business gathering or cocktail party, regardless of your VIP status.
Leadership Advice From the Winningest Basketball Coach of All Time I posted this interview with the Stanford women’s basketball coach Tara “T Dawg” VanDerveer on my LinkedIn, but worth re-sharing here! At 70 she is about to become the coach with the most wins of all time, with an 82 percent win rate. She believes in experimentation, asking for help, and the art of the controlled meltdown.
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Travel & Hospitality: From Buddymoons to Gramping: 2024's Travel Buzzwords Hotel News Now's Stephanie Ricca does a roundup of the best portmanteaux, and we are here for it!
Major Hotel Chains Are Rushing to Open at the Ends of the Earth Fringe locales and far-flung urban centers were once the domain of ultra-luxury lodges. Now, the biggest hotel brands in the world are pushing in places from Norway to Kenya and the Great Wall of China, read more in the Robb Report.
Americans Are Canceling Trips That Are Thousands of Miles From Gaza, Here Is Why A study by Morning Consult of 2,200 Americans in November showed one in five people saying they have delayed, rescheduled or canceled a travel booking as a direct result of the Israel-Hamas war. Read more on CNBC.
US Records Highest ADR, RevPAR Ever in 2023 No joke, last year was a banger as my kids would say...with occupancy hitting 63%, up 0.6% versus 2022; ADR up 4.3% over 2022 at $155.62; and RevPAR jumping 4.9% versus last year at $97.97. The country’s occupancy level was its highest since 2019. Among the Top 25 Markets, New York City ranked highest. Read more in Hotel Investment Today.
Falling Domestic Fares and an A.I. Arms Race: What Travelers Can Expect in 2024 At the start of what promises to be a very busy year, the New York Times makes predictions for the year look ahead.
The Travel Industry is Undergoing a Fake Review Storm It was only a matter of time! An interesting take on the impact of AI-generated reviews on travel––fakes are up 8% in 2023 (I would have guessed more). A look into emerging solutions reshaping trust in the industry––badges, peer-to-peer networks and communities, and new blockchain solutions.
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