Jennifer Barnwell talks about how independent hotels are answering the call for deeper , more meaningful travel along with their growing hotel membership and benefits as they expand their value offering for members .
The Maven Hotel at Dairy Block
Hotel Murano
Can you tell us about the role of independent hotels in the recovery ?
As we have all seen , leisure travel is substantial and has bounced back much faster than business travel in this post-pandemic world . As soon as people could travel , they sought out authentic , unique , memorable , and meaningful experiences – which independent hotels are naturally best positioned to offer . We think this is why independent hotels have contributed so significantly to the industry ’ s recovery . In a recent Skift report on the U . S . Hotel Ownership Landscape , RevPAR at U . S . independent hotels is 91 percent recovered compared to 2019 levels , while brands are at 75 percent . This report shows that guests are actively seeking hotels with a sense of place , ties to the community , and local art and food for their post-pandemic escapes . We believe this trend will continue as pent-up demand remains .
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