Hello Round-Up Readers!

Greetings from Malta!  It is a school holiday in the UK and as most COVID travel restrictions have been lifted, we booked a last-minute trip to Malta.  Have you been to this gorgeous history-filled island?  If so, send me your top tips!

So far, we've been impressed with the stunning seascapes (see pic below of the Blue Grotto), incredible limestone architecture, and history dating back several thousand years.  A highlight was the gilded 17th century Baroque St. John's Cathedral which is also home to the only signed Caravaggio, a painting of the gruesome beheading of St. John the Baptist.  The food is also amazing, from Michelin-star to the local fish market, this small island nation seems to have it all.  We're staying at the Corinthia St. George's, where the service has been great. Fun fact: the Corinthia brand was founded by the Pisani family of Malta in 1962.

Anyway, you're here for the news stories you need to know about from this week:

• A rise in demand for solo travel post-pandemic. The New York Times ran an interesting article about an increase in solo travelers on group trips--where all the COVID admin is taken care of and there's sightseeing included.  Does your hotel offer special options for solo travelers? It might be worth considering, some hotels in London (The Mayfair Townhouse and The Hoxton) offer rooms specifically designed for single travelers which are well priced, though both are luxury properties. 
• Approval of a US vaccine for kids will boost family travel. An article in Skift cites research that 61% percent of US families said they planned on getting their kids vaccinated.  While the pending approval is in time for Thanksgiving, experts think it is too late to impact immediate travel but will increase bookings for next year. The article also states that once the US approves the Pfizer vaccine for kids, the world will follow.
• Why some Americans aren't going back to work.  With the labor shortage continuing to challenge the hospitality sector, worth reading is this article from BloombergBusinessweek where they interviewed 10 people on the variety of reasons they've not returned to work despite government subsidies running out: child or elder care, vulnerable health, too little pay.  Based on this, a possible solution is to accelerate options for flexible hours and scheduling (see our story on how The Grand in York is doing this!)
• The pandemic has changed the way women spend and save.  The Washington Post ran two very interesting stories, one on how millennial women have changed how they spend money--less on things and going out--and the dramatic increase in saving and investing by women.  Women are looking for more meaning in their purchases (this was echoed in the NY Times story mentioned above about solo travel) and taking responsibility for their financial security like never before. Two things to think about: as a travel provider, what are you doing to offer meaningful experiences, and as an employer what are you doing to help women manage their finances? 

A lighter week on hertelier, with one inspiring story you do not want to miss!  We interviewed the dynamic Angel Johnson on her path to hotel ownership.  Juggling two careers that are typically dominated by men, Angel is a cybersecurity technologist, and a first-time hotel investor, who proves to us that women truly can “run the world.” Inspired by the financial success of a real estate investor, Angel took a leap of faith by buying her first property straight after college, having taught herself the ins and outs of the business. After 20 years of nurturing a career in the tech industry alongside her real estate investments, Angel now has an ownership stake in a hotel in Douglas, GA. Angel’s motivating story exemplifies how with determination and a willingness to take risks, women can make their mark in the world of hotel investing. 

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Have a great week,

Emily