Dear Round-Up Readers,

Back from an incredible week in Cannes for ILTM, the "see and be seen" luxury travel event, which organisers said was the biggest ever with over 2,100 buyers from 83 countries and 2,100 exhibitors representing 330 brands. I was there reporting on the conference for Luxury Travel Advisor, where you can read my daily recaps (one more to run on Monday). Suffice to say, luxury travel is baaaack!

Lots of companies announced big growth plans all around the world, which means it is an exciting time for you to be working in hospitality, especially the luxury sector! It was inspiring to see so many women leading sessions, representing luxury brands and properties. I'll be writing up my key takeaways for hertelier this week....stay tuned!

Now, on to the rest of the news....

Business, Women, and Random Trends:
 

• Taylor Swift is Time Person of the Year We've been sharing her impact on the economy and the hotel sector all year, so it is great to see TS get this recognition. The interview in Time is a fantastic read! My favorite quote from Swift,"There is one thing I’ve learned: My response to anything that happens, good or bad, is to keep making things...I’ve also learned there’s no point in actively trying to quote unquote defeat your enemies...trash takes itself out every single time.” Plus, there are pics with her cats!
   

• Cop28: Highlights and Lowlights so Far The Guardian offers up a good explainer of what has been going on at the climate conference this week.
   

•  Peach Fuzz, Pantone’s 2024 Colour Of The Year, Is A Call For Human Connection The color of the year is always an interesting indication of what society (or those who market to society) is ready to embrace...this year seems the world is ready for something peachy. In case you are curious about the evolution of chosen colors, here is every single Pantone Colour of the Year from 2000 – 2024.

Travel & Hospitality:

• Finding a Voice: Empowering Women in Hospitality JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group issued a new report, saying "hospitality industry has long been recognised for its diverse and inclusive nature. However, there’s still work to be done." Download the report.
   

• Women Hoteliers: Shaping the Landscape of the Industry Hotel & Motel Management partnered with AAHOA to produce an e-book with a few articles from the recent HEROwnership conference in Dallas. Download here. Also, for more on the AAHOA HEROwnership conference, read our recap!
   

•  Confused by All the Hiltons and Marriotts? The Wall Street Journal Is Travel reporter Dawn Gilbertson writes "travelers face a ‘confusing sea of sameness’ as new brands keep popping up; do you want ‘classic luxury’ or ‘lifestyle luxury’?" She unpacks growth in hotel brands from Accor, IHG, Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton and interviews Cornell expert Chekitan Dev, who predicts a shakeout is coming.
   

• The Latest Trend in Luxury Hotels? No More Lobbies Another winning story from the WSJ...high-end hotels no longer try to wow you with a grand entrance in favor of more ‘personalized’ ways of greeting guests. Is the move genuinely luxurious or just stingy minimalism? Read more here.

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. 

• Lights, Camera, Reservations! Short-Form Videos Are Fueling Discovery and Hotel Bookings You’ve probably noticed on all your social media channels–short-form videos rule. We get the scoop from expert Lori Kresse on how to use!
   

• SHAZAM! The Unexpected Superpowers of Female Founders Female Founders in Hospitality surveyed their members...and SHAZAM! the results revealed the incredible superpowers of these entrepreneurs. Susan Barry reports.
   

• 5 Hot Trends in Meeting Planning for the Holidays and 2024 What's hot in meeting planning? Brittany Norton unpacks holiday and group trends from the Florida Keys' largest resort.

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.

PODCASTS to download!
 

• Jaime Simpson, General Manager, Jumeirah Mina A’Salam on NXT Gen Hotels Just discovered this fantastic podcast series hosted by Mark Abraham. Jaime did two podcasts with NXT Gen, lots of honest conversation about juggling motherhood. Highly suggest both of these...

  • “Mummy WANTS to go to work”. Jaime Simpson, General Manager - Jumeirah Mina A’Salam

  • Balancing motherhood with career progression and the misconceptions that impact female leaders in the industry with Jaime Simpson

• Rachel Humphrey, founder of the Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance, was on Hospitality Daily, sharing the growth of the organisation (now more than 30 members!) and continued mission to elevate women in our industry. Listen here.

Thank you for reading! Have a great week!

Em