THE MAGAZINE OF THE WORLDWIDE HOTEL INDUSTRY
EDITORIAL Jeff Weinstein , Editor In Chief 1.312.274.2226 E-mail : jweinstein @ hotelsmag . com
Ann Bagel Storck , Managing Editor 1.312.274.2209 E-mail : astorck @ hotelsmag . com
Brittany Farb , Associate Editor 1.312.274.2229 E-mail : bfarb @ hotelsmag . com
Dani Friedland , Managing Editor , New Media 1.312.274.2223 E-mail : dfriedland @ mtgmediagroup . com
Queenie Burns , Vice President , Design 1.312.274.2216 E-mail : qburns @ mtgmediagroup . com
Bert Ganzon , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2227 E-mail : bganzon @ mtgmediagroup . com
Steve Vanden Heuvel , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2218 E-mail : svandenheuvel @ mtgmediagroup . com
Michelle Villadolid , Freelance Design E-mail : mvilladolid @ mtgmediagroup . com
Bill McDowell , Vice President , Editorial Director 1.312.274.2201 bmcdowell @ mtgmediagroup . com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORs Mary Gostelow , Oriana Lerner
PUBLIsHING Dan Hogan , Vice President , Publisher 1.312.274.2221 dhogan @ hotelsmag . com
INTERNATIONAL ADVIsORY BOARD
Nakul Anand Executive Director , ITC Ltd ., Gurgaon , India
Stephen Bartolin Chairman and CEO , The Broadmoor , Colorado Springs , Colorado
Geoffrey Gelardi Managing Director , The Lanesborough , London
Kirk Kinsell President , the Americas , IHG , Atlanta
Alex Kyriakidis President and Managing Director , Middle East and Africa , Marriott International , Dubai
Christopher Nassetta President and CEO , Hilton Worldwide , McLean , Virginia
Monika Nerger Chief Information Officer , Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group , Atlanta
Paul Sistare President and CEO , Atlantica Hotels International , São Paulo
Susan Terry Vice President Culinary Operations , Hyatt Hotels North American Operations , Chicago
EDiTOriAL AND PrODuCTiON OFFiCES , HOTELS Marketing and Technology Group , 1415 N . Dayton Street Chicago , Illinois 60642 USA 1.312.274.2200 ; fax : 1.312.266.3363 edit @ hotelsmag . com
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Big ExpEctations
With the exception of a few hot spots in Eastern Europe and the Middle East , today the collective global hotel industry is feeling rather optimistic about its near-term future . In fact , here in the United States , the zealots are now predicting positive growth through 2018 . I am not sure how anyone can gaze that far ahead with any degree of confidence , but it does give you a sense that the strengthening U . S . economy is creating impetus for a more positive global outlook .
Signals of strength include brand launches . Without really even trying , I was able to write down 10 new brands coming to market , ranging from Hilton ’ s Canopy ( p10 ) to Shangri-La ’ s Jen , Montage ’ s Pendry and Accor ’ s new 23 % stake in chic French lifestyle brand Mama Shelter . Almost all the new brands — no matter the segment — are lifestyle-driven . Maybe we should stop using the term “ lifestyle ” because it has become today ’ s industry norm . What recent new brand has not bragged about its lifestyle component ?
The other positive indicator is M & A activity . In November , Louvre Hotels Group announced it was being acquired by China ’ s Jin Jiang .
Perhaps the bellwether deal of the year was the nearly US $ 2 billion sale of New York ’ s iconic Waldorf Astoria to a Chinese insurance company , Anbang . Does this deal signal it is now absolutely the moment in the cycle to sell ? Most executives I speak to seem to think there is still some runway left for asset prices to increase , and there remains a strong desire by foreign investors to park their cash in real estate .
The other predominant stories for the coming year will be related to mobile
— both for booking and as a room key . As more hoteliers allow their guests to skip traditional check-in , will it lead to operational and security issues ? I know the brands have thoroughly thought through this new process , but some technology experts have expressed concern about how the new checkin systems are going to sync with all of the back-of-the-house functions .
There are also multiple “ disruptors ” impacting the hotel business , ranging from OTAs and metamediaries impacting revenue and yield management to social media marketing and review sites changing the hotel marketing mix — not to mention the sharing economy and understanding if it is more than just an industry outlier .
As a result of all these challenges to traditional business models , we have recruited multiple industry experts to offer their insights into these hot topics each month . Starting in January , look for a new section in the magazine that will report and interpret the news of the day on these critical story lines .
In the meantime , all of us at HOTELS wish you warm greetings of the season and a New Year that matches the industry ’ s brightest expectations .
Editor In Chief www . hotelsmag . com December 2014 HOTELs 5