MSC to debut two new ships during summer 2021 programme

Key Take Away

The cruise company revealed that it will further extend the temporary fleet-wide halt of its cruise operation through to  July 31, 2020. 

It also announced that it will debut two new ships, MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore, during the summer 1 August 2021 program due to the delay that was caused by the temporary closure of the shipyard due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It will offer the popular ‘Six Pearls’ itinerary calling the Italian cities of Genoa and, for visits to Pompeii, Naples; Messina, Sicily; Valletta, Malta; Barcelona, Spain, and Marseille, France. 

For More Information

www.iol.co.za/amp/travel/travel-news/msc-to-debut-two-new-ships-during-summer-2021-programme-48999344

Hampton Inn & Suites Keller Town Center

Key Take Away

TI Group, Inc. and Hotel Equities announced the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton- Keller Town Center and welcomed local dignitaries and VIPs, including Hon. Pat McGrail, Mayor of Keller, Mark Hafner, Keller City Manager, and long-time Keller developer Douglas Gilliland with TI Group, Inc. along with many other dignitaries to celebrate the property's grand opening.

Located at 200 Town Center Lane, Keller TX 76248, the hotel is uniquely positioned in the heart of the city. The property is owned by TI Group, Inc. and managed by Hotel Equities

For More Information

www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41004739.html

Top Dining-Out Trends for a Post-Pandemic Society

Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management projects five dining-out trends affecting restaurants, bars, and consumers that are emerging in a post-pandemic world. The trends were presented by Michael Cheng, dean of the Chaplin School.

Top Dining-Out Trends in a post-pandemic society:

• Dining-Out Trend #1 Transparency and Communication

• Dining-Out Trend #2 Innovation and Creativity

• Dining-Out Trend #3 Contactless Technology and Virtual Presence

• Dining-Out Trend #4 A Collaborative Community

• Dining-Out Trend #5 Reset!

"While these are signs that we see today, the next 12 months will give us better clarity of the way forward," said Cheng.

Will home-sharing and luxury hotels recover sooner after COVID-19?

Key Take Away

STR (Smith Travel Research), a leading data analytics provider for the lodging industry, conducted an opinion survey about travelers' attitudes towards different types of accommodation facilities based on their preference from the past experience. One assumption for such an analysis is that travelers tend to stick to the same kind of accommodation facility for their trips.

The short-term rental/vacation rental/self-catering segment appears to be least affected for post-pandemic travel. There was only an 8 percent-point change (29% vs. 37%) for the group who would travel less. 

For More Information

https://youtu.be/pXkF8BeIuiM

www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4099019.html

The summer season begins - Accor is working hard to provide a wide variety of flexible and safe destinations

Key Take Away

Accor anticipates that more than 70% of its global network will reopen by the start of July. Accor has also seen renewed interest in travel demand, with hotel reservations doubling.

Guests who have booked a non-flexible rate directly on the ALL.com reservation site for a stay until June 30, 2020, can change their reservation to a future date (within the next 18 months) at the same hotel or receive a voucher for the full value of their stay for later use.

Business Plus and ibis Business cards will be extended by six months from the expiry date.

For More Information

www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4099036.html

Marriott opens all hotels in China, sees steady US recovery

Marriott International has reopened all its hotels in China and is seeing a steady recovery in the United States, its biggest market, Chief Executive Officer Arne Sorenson said

In the United States, Marriott's hotels that remained open crossed the 20 percent occupancy threshold and continue to see an improvement

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Announces New Signing - To open InterContinental in Rome

Key Take Away

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) announces the signing of a franchise agreement with Westmont Hospitality Group and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (“Oaktree”), for a captivating property in the heart of Rome.

The project is held by a newly established real estate investment fund managed by Milan-based Castello SGR, one of Italy’s premier real estate management companies

Voco South Melbourne Hotel Announced for 2023

Key Take Away

Scheduled to open in early 2023 in partnership with Melbourne-based developers, BEKL, the new-build voco South Melbourne will be a different way to stay at the northern end of St Kilda Road

Focusing on the ‘Me Time’ concept, where guests can look forward to a great night’s sleep with premium beds, innovative lighting, and user-friendly technology, as well as superior showers to start the day well. Beyond guest rooms, the brand’s signature ‘voco Life’ concept will be front and center, with a vibrant and sociable restaurant and bar spaces.

For More Information

www.hotelnewsresource.com/article110940.html

IDeaS and SIHOT Expand Partnership to Provide Seamless Two-Way Data Integration for Hoteliers

Key Take Away

IDeaS, the leader in revenue management solutions, announced a new technology integration with SIHOT.

The two-way data integration between IDeaS' revenue management solutions and SIHOT's leading property management software, SIHOT.PMS, will help the global hotel industry accurately forecast business demand, maximize occupancy and ADR, and increase overall operational effectiveness through automated pricing decisions.

For More Information

www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4099020.html

Maldives brings forward reopening date to July

Key Take Away

"We are planning to reopen our borders for visitors in July 2020," read an official statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism on May 30.

To ensure safety, the government says it is issuing a "Safe Tourism License" to accredit tourist facilities that abide by government legislation and specific safety requirements like having a certified medic on call and holding an "adequate stock" of personal protection equipment.

Travelers will also need to take steps. They'll be required to present a medical certificate confirming proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken at least 14 days before they arrive.

For More Information

www-cnn-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.cnn.com/travel/amp/maldives-reopening-july/index.html

Hotel stocks surge as govt allows resumption of hospitality services from June 8

Key Take Away

Hotel stocks are rallying after the Home Ministry's announced the re-opening of economic and other activities in the country except for containment zones, which will continue to remain in lockdown till June 30.

The government has allowed hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality services to resume operations from June 8 onwards.

Hotel Association of India Vice President K.B. Kachru said, "The pandemic and consequent lockdowns have had a disastrous impact on the hotel sector."

For More Information

www.cnbctv18.com/market/stocks/hotel-stocks-surge-nearly-18-as-govt-allows-resumption-of-hospitality-services-from-june-8-6042661.htm

Region overview: Europe to welcome 300,000 new hotel rooms

Key Take Away

With hotels finally reopening after the COVID-19 crisis and demand picking up again around the world, confidence is rising that the hotel industry could soon return to its pre-crisis growth trajectory.

As of late May, 1,675 hotels are in the pipeline, adding another 292,924 rooms to Europe’s hotel offering.

Hilton is expanding aggressively in Europe, and consequently, four of its brands are represented in the list of Europe’s top 10 fastest growing hotel brands.

Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts, which has 20 hotels in its pipeline, followed by Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts and Scandic hotels with 18 upcoming openings each.

For more information

tophotel.news/region-overview-europe-to-welcome-300000-new-hotel-rooms-construction-report/

Coronavirus claims 215,734 hotel-supported jobs in New York

Key Take Away

Coronavirus-related losses of jobs supported by the hotel industry in New York numbered 215,734 out of a total of 528,618 hotel-supported jobs, according to a hotel industry estimate.

Californi, Florida, Nevada, and Texas are expected to be the states hardest hit by losses of jobs 

Nationwide, 44 percent of hotel workers were projected to lose their jobs in the coming weeks due to the pandemic, which has led to a dramatic drop in hotel occupancy. 

For More Information

www.thecentersquare.com/new_york/coronavirus-claims-215-734-hotel-supported-jobs-in-new-york/article_a172c162-9ab4-11ea-847f-cbcacc9ffe39.html

Lockdown 5.0: Chennai restaurants battle manpower crunch after migrant workers return home

key Take Away

With most migrant workers have left for their home states, many restaurants in the city are struggling to reopen for business even as the lockdown restrictions are being relaxed

Many restaurants which were owned by people from neighboring states like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh also remain closed as employees rushed back to their hometowns just before the lockdown

Local workers demand Rs 700 to Rs 1000 per day and with the outlook for business remaining uncertain, it was a risk.

But some other restaurants in the city managed to keep their workers here by taking care of their needs during the lockdown.

For More Information

www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2020/jun/01/lockdown-50-chennai-restaurants-battle-manpower-crunch-after-migrant-workers-return-home-2150830.html

Zleep Hotels Opens New Hotel In Copenhagen

Key Take Away

Due to the corona epidemic's impact on the country's tourism, the opening date has previously been postponed. Zleep Hotels now opened the doors to yet another of its popular select-service hotels. The hotel is located in Ørestad 

Zleep Hotel Copenhagen Arena is the largest Zleep hotel to date with no less than 211 beautiful and stylish rooms.

For More Information

www.zleep.com/en/hotel/copenhagen-arena/

www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41004730.html

Hilton College Initiates First-ever Hospitality Hackathon (HC3), Sponsored by HFTP; Challenges Students From Hospitality Programs Across the Globe

Key Take Away

The University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, in partnership with Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), are addressing the immediate need for creative and thoughtful solutions that will assist hospitality companies to put their businesses back on track

The idea for the HC3 was first proposed by Arlene D. Ramirez, CHAE, CHIA, CAHTA, CHE, Hilton College instructional assistant professor, and HFTP Global past president.

The main objective of HC3 is to produce initiatives that can be easily implemented within an operation, and are not necessarily tech-centric. She floated the idea to hold a virtual student competition during the College's spring faculty meeting.

Registration for HC3 is FREE and is now open.

For More Details

www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4098978.html

https://youtu.be/Y8fJC5-z1fo

Airlines cancel flights in the wake of Cyclone Nisarga

Key Take Away

There have been warnings of the Cyclone making its landfall on the Maharashtra coast. Airlines canceled most flights to and from Mumbai in the wake of Cyclone Nisarga.

IndiGo canceled 17 flights and operated just three to Chandigarh, Ranchi, and Patna. Vistara also canceled flights to Delhi and Kolkata
The operators of the Mumbai airport held a meeting with its stakeholders to devise preventive measures to tackle potential adversities accompanied by the cyclone.

For More Information

economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/airlines-cancel-flights-in-the-wake-of-cyclone-nisarga/articleshow/76161140.cms

Maharashtra, Sikkim prohibit hotels from resuming operations

Key Take Away

Maharashtra and Sikkim prohibited hotels and restaurants from resuming operations, while Gujarat and Karnataka permitted hotels and restaurants to open as per the new standard operating procedures (SOPs) in a phased manner from June 8.
The Maharashtra government's order comes into effect from June 1 and shall remain effective till June 30. The Sikkim government has prohibited hotels and restaurants from reopening from June 1 until further notice.
The industry lobby group, which represents over 500,000 restaurants, cafes, bars, and pubs in the country, has asked for restaurants to be allowed to stay open beyond 9 pm and for reopening of public transport fully to aid staff movement.

For More Information

economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/hotels-/-restaurants/maharashtra-sikkim-prohibit-hotels-from-resuming-operations/articleshow/76127152.cms

Occupancy fall among steepest for Indian hotels

Key Take Away

As per hospitality consultancy HVS Anarock’s Hotels & Hospitality Overview, occupancies in India declined 81% in April from a year earlier. HVS is estimating a similar decline for May as well.

In the US, occupancies during April shrank almost 64% while for the UK, the decline was 71.3% as per HVS and STR data. For China and Singapore, occupancies during the same period declined by 48.7% and 29.2% respectively.
In a note on May 27, investment information and credit rating agency ICRA said demand had declined to the lowest levels the industry had ever witnessed in India during the extended lockdown, and that it was clear that it was the biggest crisis faced by the sector.

For More Information

economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/hotels-/-restaurants/occupancy-fall-among-steepest-for-india-hotels/articleshow/76143482.cms

Cyprus offers to cover cost of holidays affected by Coronavirus

Key Take Away

The battle to lure tourists to the Mediterranean is hotting up with Cyprus declaring it will go one step further than its competitors, footing the bill for anyone whose holiday is ultimately ruined by a coronavirus.

The only bills the Greek Cypriot government will not cover are those for repatriation flights and taxis to airports.

Cypriot authorities are demanding that, initially, visitors carry health certificates proving they have tested negative for Covid-19 at least three days before departure

For More Information

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/29/cyprus-cover-cost-holidays-affected-by-coronavirus-covid-19