Phocuswright Europe 2022: Hot topics for hospitality

Hotels are fighting fires on many fronts currently.

As if pandemic recovery wasn’t enough, global conflict, new and established rivals for customers and the need for automation all fuel those fires.

Despite the challenges, the hotel industry is doing well. Business travel volumes are steadily increasing and the CEOs of giants such as Accor and Marriott, at least on the surface, seem upbeat.

Marriott just hailed its best quarter ever for direct digital bookings while Accor announced first quarter earnings of €701 million, down 23% on the same quarter in 2019.

Many believe now is the ideal time to invest in technology to meet the demands of guests who are increasingly online and expecting a fast, efficient experience from search and booking through to the actual stay.

Newer, tech-driven concepts such as Selina and Sonder won’t be shy to move in and take business away from the traditional hotel sector with the contactless, home-from-home experience they offer, especially to younger cohorts.

And the need for technology and automation is even more crucial at a time of huge labor shortages.

There are cost and efficiency gains to be made if hotels accept the need to do more on fewer resources and get over the mindset that it’s all about the human touch.

Some experts believe that if we fast forward five years the hotel industry will not need half the people it employed prior to the pandemic.

With the Phocuswright Europe 2022 theme of Fast Forward - a Strong Sustainable Future, it’s a good time to learn from others and plan and build for a better and stronger hospitality industry future.

During a Center Stage session at Phocuswright Europe, representatives from three of the continent’s standout hotel groups - Brenda Collin, executive vice president, Europe, Preferred Hotels & Resorts; Giovanna Manzi, CEO, BWH Hotel Group Italia; and Fernando Vives, chief commercial officer, NH Hotel Group - will discuss the current hospitality landscape with Giancarlo Carniani, general manager ToFlorence Hotels and market analyst, Italy, Phocuswright.

Click here to register for the event .