John Lancaster

🚨 It’s RFP season! 🚨 I recently joined No Vacancy News, Podcasts and Videos with Anthony Melchiorri and Glenn Haussman to dive into key insights that can help you maximize topline success! Here are some of the highlights: - Understanding RFP Season: What it is, why it matters, and its impact on the hospitality industry. - US Market Projections: Discussing an anticipated 2-3% growth next year and the key factors behind it. - Customer Sentiment: Despite economic uncertainties, the sentiment in the hospitality industry remains positive, and the fundamentals are strong! - Work-from-Home Impact: How hybrid work is driving group business and meeting space demand. - Evolution of RFP Processes: From static to dynamic pricing, and the importance of total revenue yield management. - Sustainability and Well-being: These factors are becoming essential in RFP considerations. #HospitalityIndustry #RFPSeason #HotelManagement #Sustainability #WorkFromHome #BusinessTravel #GroupBusiness #HotelRevenue #NoVacancyLive #IHG #TravelTrends https://lnkd.in/ewUbQPQr

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🏨 2024 Lodging Conference: Where Hotels Meet the Future! 🚀 Hotel investment is on the rise, and travelers are demanding more experiential and extended stays. But with opportunity comes challenges—labor shortages and tech hurdles remain a hot topic. Ready for what’s next in the hospitality world? Key Takeaways: • Investment Boom: Hotel investments are on a bull run – time to dust off those piggy banks! 💰 Private equity and institutional investors are showing renewed interest Focus on value-add opportunities and distressed assets Emerging markets and boutique concepts attracting significant capital Sustainable and tech-forward properties commanding premium valuations • Experiential Stays: Guests want experiences, not just rooms. Think less "continental breakfast," more "continental adventure" 🌎 Demand for unique, Instagram-worthy accommodations and activities Integration of local culture and community into hotel offerings Rise of "bleisure" travel blending business and leisure Personalization becoming a key differentiator in guest satisfaction • Extended Stay Strength: Extended stay is here to stay – it's the hotel world's version of "going steady" 🏠 Continued growth in both economy and upscale extended stay segments Attracting diverse guest profiles from digital nomads to relocating families Innovations in design and amenities tailored for long-term guests Blurring lines between hotels and residential living spaces • Persistent Challenges: Labor and tech issues still giving hoteliers more headaches than a poorly adjusted pillow 🤕 Ongoing staffing shortages and rising labor costs Need for upskilling and reskilling workforce for new tech adoption Balancing automation with maintaining the human touch in hospitality Cybersecurity concerns as hotels become increasingly digitized What trends are you most excited about? #HospitalityTrends #HotelIndustry #TravelExperiences #LodgingConference

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Join in our Board meeting listening section next Wednesday! Details are below.

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The #2025hospitalitytrends predictions are on par with what shifts in recent years, but this time there are some notes I would like to underline and add. We have all noticed that female individual travel is also on an increase, as is continued demand for unique and elevated luxury experiences that are budget friendly, decrease of commercial destinations with exceptions of traditionally positioned and culture orientated city capitals and summer holidays ones such as Mexico and Caribbean for US travelers, and in general Maldives, Seychelles, Goa and similar for the rest of the world. I am happy to notice too the generational shift in traveler stats as well as, and most importantly the increase of female force in our #hospitalityindustry, although I still expect and wish for a further augmentation of women in leadership roles. Finally, with all eyes on AI, we are yet to see the influence in comparison to expected trends. What would you add dear colleagues to the predictions? #hospitality #hoteloperations #hospitalitytrends #travel #travelandtourism

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🌟 Platinum Service Annual Certification: Empowering Excellence 🌟 In Atlanta, the Platinum Service Annual Certification wasn’t just an event – it was an experience. From the moment our team members walked through the door, the energy was palpable. Warm welcomes, genuine smiles, and a sense of belonging set the tone for a day that felt like a family reunion. We began by focusing on connection before content, creating a space where leaders, managers, and key talents could engage, collaborate, and share. Through immersive sessions, we explored the essence of Platinum Service – empowering our leaders with the tools, training, and resources to consistently elevate the experience for our teams and clients alike. This isn’t just training; it’s a movement. Platinum Service builds a culture of belonging, recognition, and empowerment, where every interaction leaves a lasting impact. Thank you to everyone who joined us in Atlanta and brought this vision to life. Here’s to creating extraordinary experiences that inspire, connect, and empower. #FLIKHospitality #PlatinumService #ServiceExcellence #StrongerTogether #LeadershipInAction #CultureOfBelonging

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Lisa Lombardo, MPA is President at ARK, where she’s passionate about creating a thriving, people-first culture in hospitality. Lisa shares how focusing on team happiness and growth not only improves relationships but also enhances business performance. 💡 People-First Leadership: How ARK focuses on people for better relationships, reputation, and returns 🔥 Culture in Practice: Why it’s important to define, program, and measure company culture 📊 Growth in 2024: Expanding the team, portfolio, and leadership at ARK Hospitality 🏨 Career Development: Exposing employees to new roles and career paths within the industry 🌟 Success Stories: From property-level roles to C-suite positions – the amazing career trajectories in hospitality 🚀 ARK Hospitality Academy: A unique program that trains employees in leadership and operations Discover how to build a positive workplace culture and unlock growth in the hospitality industry. Thank you to our sponsor, Unifocus – streamline your hotel operations and empower your team at unifocus.com. #HospitalityCareers #PeopleFirstLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #HotelOperations #ARKHospitality #HospitalityGrowth #GlennHaussman #LisaLombardo #HospitalityIndustry #CareerDevelopment

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This holiday season, give yourself the gift that keeps on giving: stronger communication skills. 🎁 Whether it’s navigating tough conversations at work, expressing your needs more clearly, or simply learning how to actually listen, coaching with Kline Hospitality can help you master the art of connection. 🌟 Because who doesn’t want to be the person who says the right thing at the right time (without the awkward follow-up email)? 🎄✨ Invest in your growth and watch your relationships thrive. 💡 #GiftOfGrowth #360ImpactLeadership #HolidayGiftIdeas https://lnkd.in/giR7_T_e

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Success is not just about personal gain, it's about benefiting others too. To achieve this, we must constantly add value to people's lives. It's important to be externally focused and invest in ourselves so that we can invest in others. Are you helping others grow too? Explore coaching for organizations by visiting our website👇🏻 https://lnkd.in/dxYQng2F #Success #InvestInYourself #AddValue #ExternalFocus

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Hi, friends and family! I wanted to tell you about @Hilton’s great travel management program for small to medium-sized businesses, Hilton for Business. What’s Hilton for Business? A full suite of benefits for small business owners and their employees —from exclusive discounts to Hilton Honors loyalty benefits, plus 7,500 Bonus Points for your company’s first stay at the Hilton for Business rate. Here’s a rundown of some of the many benefits  your company will receive: ✔️Discounted Rates — Available at any participating Hilton hotel worldwide. No blackout dates! ✔️Loyalty Benefits — Earn 5,000 Hilton Honors Points for every 10 company-wide stays. Travelers  continue to earn their individual Hilton Honors benefits each time they stay. ✔️Program Management — Use the self serve dashboard to track past and upcoming spend, and  watch your Points add up. ✔️One Hilton Honors Account — Use your existing Honors account to create profiles for personal and business travel and easily switch between them based on your travel needs. All you need to do is go to hiltonforbusiness.com and register your company. Email Me @ [email protected] for any travel needs. #HiltonForBusiness

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Imagine this: someone you care about is feeling stuck, unsure of their next steps, or ready to unlock their potential—but they just need the right push. 🎁 This holiday season, give them exactly what they need: the gift of growth. A coaching gift card from Kline Hospitality is more than a present—it’s the start of a transformative journey. 🌟 Whether it’s clarity in their career, building confidence, or finding balance, this is the gift that empowers them to thrive. 🎄✨ Let your gift make an impact that lasts far beyond the holidays! 💡 #GiftOfGrowth #360ImpactLeadership #HolidayGiftIdeas https://lnkd.in/giR7_T_e

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What hotel procurement tactics can you take to uplevel your room service experience for guests? 🍽️ Source local ingredients unique to the city. 🍽️ Invest in sleek and sophisticated serveware that adds a touch of elegance to the dining experience. 🍽️ Leverage technology like in-room tablets or mobile apps to modernize the room service experience and streamline the ordering process. 🍽️ Partner with suppliers who offer creative packaging solutions and eye-catching presentation options. By implementing these procurement tactics, you’re sure to create a memorable room service experience that will keep guests ordering more. #procurement #hotels #hospitality

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From June to August, our data shows that advance airline ticket sales into Orlando are up 6.6% in both domestic and international markets, ahead of 2023. We also have seen international air routes into #Orlando continue to grow. Through our research, we know that  international visitors stay longer, which means more support for local businesses and a greater economic impact on our destination. Here are some of the most recent international air routes announced coming into Orlando:    • 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 is offering seasonal flights between Orlando and London’s Heathrow.  • 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 added new flights from multiple Canadian cities like Toronto and Ottawa.  • 𝐕𝐢𝐯𝐚 𝐀𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐮𝐬 started new routes from Merida to Orlando and enhanced connections from Colombia.  • 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐌 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 inaugurated flights from Santiago, Chile to Orlando in late June.  • 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 announced its winter schedule expansion from key Canadian cities to Orlando beginning Oct. 29.  • 𝐈𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 launched direct flights between Orlando and Madrid.  • 𝐆𝐎𝐋 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 resumed its flights from Fortaleza, Brazil to Orlando. Read about the most recent direct flight expansion to Orlando: https://shorturl.at/rmN2U   #TravelTrends #OrlandoTravel #EconomicImpact

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What Meeting & Event Planners Can Learn from Today's IT Blackout - Smart Meetings Interviews Kevin Coffey with Extended Audio Commentary The internet blackout today impacted countless airports and travelers around the world, as well as those traveling to meetings and events, not just here in the US, but internationally as well. Smart Meetings just posted an article about this event, in which I shared a few thoughts that meeting and event planners and suppliers should consider. I spoke about this same scenario at the Meeting Professionals International WEC conference in Louisville - where I emphasized the importance of meeting and event risk management awareness, preparation, training, and response to 'foreseeable" events....and here we are again. The technical tsunami impacted not just airlines, airports and the meeting/event attendees trying to fly to events, but also numerous companies around the world which meeting professionals have come to depend on. This massive IT disruption... which many is saying is the largest in history, has also impacted the lives of many, including canceled and delayed surgeries due to the impact of hospitals, banks, and 911 call centers. In addition to the written article, I also provided an extended audio commentary about this incident and a few additional thoughts not covered in the written article—the audio commentary is in the box at the bottom of the article.

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Fascinating read diving into the latest economic trends for the meetings industry.

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Per Skift "Leisure now accounts for 55% of Hyatt’s revenue, up from high 30s prepandemic. Leisure demand remains robust, especially in luxury segments, with Hyatt maintaining 2023 levels despite tough year-over-year comparisons" https://lnkd.in/gDcNhWVU Why is that? It's in part because of the incredible amount of time and effort Hyatt and specifically Tristan Dowell and his team including Molly Clayton, PMP have invested into Hyatt Privé, Hyatt's world class program hotel program for Luxury Travel Advisors. Hyatt Privé continues to lead the way with innovation, taking feedback from agency owners and advisors and never growing stagnant. This makes it easy for my team at Live Luxe Travel Co. to not only book Hyatt, but also for them to love the care-free and simplified process to book Hyatt Privé which in turn pushes them to encourage our clients to stay at more Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. That combined with the incredible talent Hyatt has deployed on their global team like Armel Reyes to the on property colleagues at high performing hotels and resorts like Lisa Taitano and her team at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, truly drives the relationship, trust and confidence with Hyatt even further. So yes, Hyatt's leisure revenue is accounting for more of their business. And that is because luxury travel advisors trust Hyatt Privé, trust Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and our clients have come to know the confidence that they receive as a guest when booking their hotel or resort stay through Hyatt Privé. #LuxuryTravel #HyattPrive #LeisureTravel

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