Lodging Leaders

“Active shooter” is a term used by law enforcement to describe a situation in which a shooting is in progress. The classification calls into action protocols relating to response and reaction – not only by police but also by citizens, says the FBI. In the case of an “active shooter,” everyone’s response and reaction can affect the outcome. The bureau has counted 288 active shooter incidents in the U.S. from 2000 through 2018. Twenty-one of those occurred at places of business. Of those, five were at hotels or motels. Though lodging accounted for less than 2 percent of all active-shooting incidents logged by the FBI over the past 18 years, it’s an unfathomable crisis if it happens at your property. Many safety and security experts say hotel owners and operators must have a mindset of “not if but when” in preparing for the possibility of an active shooter on property. And some veteran hoteliers say, it only makes sense that the act of hospitality is extended before, during and after times of crisis. Today’s episode of Lodging Leaders is the first part in a report about hotel safety. We cull information from the FBI, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), a non-profit organization that published a white paper about hospitality attacks. We talk to Paul Frederick, a security and safety expert and co-founder of Hospitality Security Advisors, and Elie Khoury, executive vice president of operations resources at Interstate Hotels & Resorts, a third-party manager. Also featured are Roger Bloss, a veteran hotelier who is putting his weight behind a new hotel insurance program called InsuraGuest, which plans to offer coverage for guests injured in an attack on property. Also included is Natalee Bloss, Roger’s daughter who was at the scene of the Oct. 1, 2017, shooting in Las Vegas and sought safety at her family’s hotel. Resources and Links * Paul Frederick * Hospitality Security Advisors * Elie Khoury * Roger Bloss * InsuraGuest * Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) * HFTP’s “Hospitality Attacks: Tips That Could Save Lives” report * Episode 047 | Hospitality Attacks: Tips That Could Save Lives with Eliza Selig For tips on what to do when involved in an active shooting incident, visit: * ready.gov/active-shooter * view this video by the Denver Police Department * Human resource officials can visit this Department of Homeland Security page * To learn how to mitigate insider threats, visit this DHS page.

When it launched five years ago, crowdfunding for real estate development was a hot topic, especially among hotel developers seeking new ways to pay for their projects. Though it’s not creating the same level of buzz as it did when it first became a federally sanctioned option in 2014, crowdfunding remains a viable tool in attracting a wide range of investors and sourcing new streams of cash. Basically, crowdfunding is a campaign for small amounts of money from a large number of people. It is friends and family financing gone viral. We talk to hotel developers who are using the alternative financing method to raise cash for their projects. The projects are vastly different, as are the fundraisers’ goals, and target investors. One is a boutique property in a resort market, and the developer plans to raise the entire construction cost via crowdfunding. The other is a midscale branded hotel in a technology park, and the firm is selling shares to close a funding gap. Featured in today’s report is Nathan Kivi, founder of HotelierCo, an online fundraising company targeting hotel development; and Bhavik Dani, founder of EquityRoots, another fintech venture that’s raising capital for one project while about to break ground on another. We also explain the evolution of crowdfunding, and why the federal government gave the technology its nod of approval as part of a national economic recovery program. Anyone considering raising money for a project over the internet, or investing money via an online program, should first consult a professional adviser. Resources and Links * Nathan Kivi, founder of HotelierCo * Bhavik Dani, founder of EquityRoots For more information on crowdfunding visit: * Investor.gov * SEC’s Spotlight on Crowdfunding The SEC study mentioned in this report is titled “Capital Raising in the U.S.: An Analysis of the Market for Unregistered Securities Offerings, 2009‐2017” and can be accessed here.

Hotel developers and investors seeking new ideas might do well to remember history. More travelers today want an immersive experience not just in the places they visit but in the hotels in which they stay. And they’re willing to pay more for it. Historic hotels often give guests what they crave – a sense of place, a connection to something meaningful, a story to tell, a time to remember. Historic hotels also give owners and operators what they desire – a significant return on investment. CBRE Hotels America’s Research reports that the more than 300 hotels that are members of Historic Hotels of America generate greater occupancy and command higher rate than their contemporary counterparts. In today’s episode we talk with Lawrence Horwitz, executive director of Historic Hotels of America, about the growth in preservation of historic lodging accommodations as well as buildings that have been restored and transformed into hotels. Also featured are Kevin Hellmich, director of sales and marketing at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama; Susan Stein, Grand Hotel historian; and Guido Piccinni, managing director of the Georgian Terrace in midtown Atlanta. Resources and Links * Lawrence Horwitz * Historic Hotels of America * Kevin Hellmich * Susan Stein * Grand Hotel * Guido Piccinni * Georgian Terrace

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. That career adage is about 100 years old, but it still rings true today, especially when it comes to social media. If you’re not tuned into social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, it’s time to reconsider. With more than 3 billion people on social media around the world, the platforms can expose you to tons of knowledge and connect you to people who can help grow your career or business. While a lot of attention is given to Facebook, Youtube and Instagram these days, one platform professionals should pay attention to is LinkedIn. Though it got a slow start more than 15 years ago, the global channel has nearly 600 million members. It is the place to be today for professionals who want to see, and be seen. In this episode, Lodging Leaders talks to three business-minded LinkedIn members about how they use the social media platform as a tool to position themselves as industry leaders, share their brand messaging, and grow personally and professionally. They offer advice and tips on how you can use LinkedIn to gain recognition in the B2B arena and expand your, and your company’s, circle of influence. We talk to William Arruda, an author and adviser on personal branding, social media and LinkedIn; Rupesh Patel, CEO of State Hospitality, a hotel company, and founder of SmartGuests.com, a customer-service venture; and Rocco Bova, a general manager and entrepreneur who coaches industry newcomers on how to use social media as a continual education platform. Resources and Links * LinkedIn * William Arruda * CareerBlast * Rocco Bova * Chablé Resort * Rupesh Patel * SmartGuests.com

Most people the world over think of the United States as a multicultural melting pot. We are still quintessentially American, but from north to south and east to west, our cities and outlying communities are dotted with districts defined by residents’ ethnicity and culture. Today, the more developed and culturally defined areas are attracting visitors in search of new experiences and information. Cities with Chinatowns, Latino barrios, Indian American corridors and African American neighborhoods are seeing a surge in national and international travelers eager to either connect with their roots or satisfy their curiosity. Many ethnically diverse communities, as well as business and social organizations, are rising up to abet the travel trend, which many experts say is only going to grow stronger as more and more travelers seek unique and memorable experiences. Multicultural or heritage tourism is good for the hospitality industry and it is also beneficial to a city’s economic growth. One study we’ll talk about says the more diverse a city, the stronger its economy. In today’s episode, Lodging Leaders examines how hotels and other hospitality businesses can capture a generous piece of this tourism trend. We talk to Connie Kinnard, vice president of multicultural tourism development for the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau; Greg DeShields, executive director of PHL Diversity in Philadelphia; and Michael Fullerton, senior director of public policy and public affairs for Brand USA. Resources and Links * Connie Kinnard * Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau * Greg DeShields * PHL Diversity * Michael Fullerton * Brand USA

“Equal opportunity for people of color in the United States remains an unrealized goal.” That is the opening statement in a recently released study by NAACP. The same opening statement appears in the organization’s 2012 report on diversity in the U.S. hotel industry. The 2019 study titled “Opportunity & Diversity Report Card: The Hotel & Lodging Industry,” not only shows stagnation in racial equality in hospitality workplaces, it reveals African Americans have lost ground over the past decade in their climb to the top in U.S. hotel companies. The report card examines the efforts of four major hotel corporations to diversify their workforces, from rank-and-file all the way up to the C-suites. None of the companies – Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corp. and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts – fared well in the study, which was based on research performed in 2017. Grades ranged from Bs to Fs in various categories such as hiring, promotion and supplier diversity. The research was limited. NAACP surveyed the highest-earning companies and their corporate-owned and managed hotels. Franchised properties were not included. But the NAACP and other minority leaders hope to change that dynamic by pushing for information on the diversity of franchisees, as well as who is working in their branded hotels. In this episode, we take a closer look at the latest report. We hear from Marvin Owens, senior director of economic development at the NAACP; Andy Ingraham, president and CEO of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers; and Dyshaun Hines and Skye Curry, graduate students in hospitality administration. We also feature remarks by Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta, who Ingraham interviewed at last week’s NABHOOD summit in Miami, Florida. Resources and Links * Andy Ingraham, President and CEO of NABHOOD * Marvin Owens, Deputy Chief Development Officer/Senior Director of Corporate Affairs, NAACP * Skye Curry of Georgetown University * Dyshaun Hines of Temple University

Independent hotel supply in the U.S. has decreased in the past 10 years, reports STR. The lodging-data company reports independently owned and operated hotels account for less than 40 percent of all hotels. About 1 percent of those close each year. But that trend may take a turn. It appears more and more hoteliers who have grown their companies with franchised brands are considering going independent. We’re talking about entrepreneurs are converting existing branded properties into non-affiliated hotels. The franchise contracts are approaching the end, and thanks to the internet, online distribution channels and sophisticated operating and marketing technologies, flying solo is no longer a day dream. However, before lowering your brand flag, listen to the advice of three hoteliers who either have done it or are planning to do it. You may discover that franchising is the best model for your business, after all. In today’s episode, we talk to San Diego hoteliers Bobby Patel of Hotel Investment Group which has nine independent hotels, and Vipul Dayal of VNR Management who is converting a family-owned franchised property and writing a book about it. We also hear from Timesh Patel of Ohm Culture Hotels in Inglewood, California, who, as he puts it, was “punched in the face” when he transitioned from franchised to independent. Resources and Links * Timesh Patel of Ohm Culture Hotels * Bobby Patel of Hotel Investment Group * Vipul Dayal * “From Brand to Boutique: Analyzing Operating Models.” The first chapter is available on Amazon.com.

Last week, part one of our report on Airbnb looked at the home-sharing giant’s impact on hotel business performance. We reported on a study that shows for every 100 percent increase in Airbnb accommodations in a market, hotel RevPAR declines by an average 3 percent. We also reported a growth in the number of whole houses on online distribution channels as homes become “investor units.” Meantime, more everyday homeowners have warmed up to the idea of making some extra money by sharing their digs with short-term travelers. This week, in part two, we explore what’s good and smart about Airbnb and how hotels can successfully vie for travelers’ bookings and loyalty. We also take a look at new lodging trends spurred by the home-sharing movement. We talk to Leslie James, head of marketing at AirDNA, a data research platform for the home-sharing industry. We hear from Paul Breslin of Horwath HTL and Mark Woodworth of CBRE Hotels Americas Research about the new generation of travelers driving the home-sharing trend. We also talk more with Makarand Mody, a researcher and assistant professor at Boston University School of Hospitality Administration who has published several studies about Airbnb and the home-sharing phenomenon. And with Hans Detlefsen of Hotel Appraisers and Advisors, who has ideas about hotel companies adopting some Airbnb business practices. Resources and Links Makarand Mody Boston University School of Hospitality Administration * Leslie James * AirDNA Hans Detlefsen Hotel Appraisers and Advisors * Paul Breslin * Horwath HTL * Mark Woodworth * CBRE Hotels Americas Research Airbnb

More than 10 years ago, the short-term home rental industry began to shapeshift with the birth of Airbnb. The technology company has quickly grown from a small peer-to-peer home-sharing platform into a virtual behemoth with more rooms than any hotel company on the planet. Today, Airbnb has more than 4 million listings in nearly 100,000 cities, and two million people stay in an Airbnb-listed home every night. In this episode, we examine the impact of Airbnb’s growth on U.S. hotel performance. It’s big topic, so we broke it down into two parts. In this first installment, we talk to Makarand Mody, an assistant professor at Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration and co-author of the academic paper on Airbnb’s disruptive impact in key hotel markets. We hear from Hans Detlefsen of Hotel Appraisers and Advisors, which studied Airbnb’s market share of U.S. lodging demand, and from Thomas O’Shaughnessy, head of research at Clever Real Estate, an online agency. We also share information provided by Airbnb, which declined to provide someone to interview. Resources and Links Makarand Mody Boston University School of Hospitality Administration Thomas O’Shaughnessy Clever Real Estate Hans Detlefsen Hotel Appraisers and Advisors Airbnb

More than 10 years ago, the short-term home rental industry began to shapeshift with the birth of Airbnb. The technology company has quickly grown from a small peer-to-peer home-sharing platform into a virtual behemoth with more rooms than any hotel company on the planet. Today, Airbnb has more than 4 million listings in nearly 100,000 read more

It’s no secret the hospitality industry in America is in dire need of skilled employees. Many hotel owners and operators continually seek ways to attract and keep talent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the hospitality industry has a turnover rate of nearly 75 percent per year, compared to a healthy rate of 10 to read more

It’s no secret the hospitality industry in America is in dire need of skilled employees. Many hotel owners and operators continually seek ways to attract and keep talent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the hospitality industry has a turnover rate of nearly 75 percent per year, compared to a healthy rate of 10 to 15 percent. Turnover costs money, not only in lost productivity, but also in the company’s investment in each worker … and the cost to train a replacement. The greater the job responsibility, the higher the cost of replacement – from about $3,000 for an entry-level employee to $8,000 for a manager, reports Daily Pay. In a search for ways to train and retain hospitality leaders, companies have turned to the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Last year, a group of hotel management businesses and the association’s educational foundation teamed up to create a lodging manager apprenticeship program. Several hundred apprentices signed on to learn the different aspects of running a hotel through hands-on training, online courses and one-to-one mentorship. In this episode, we hear from Rosanna Maietta, president of the American Hotel Lodging Educational Foundation, and apprentice Daniel Ovichegan, who came to the U.S. from Mumbai, India, to pursue his dream career in hospitality. Resources and Links Daniel Ovichegan NewcrestImage Rosanna Maietta American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation (AHLEF)

Who invests money better, men or women? Fidelity Investments found surprising answers to that question when it surveyed nearly 3,000 people. The group was almost evenly divided between the sexes. Yet only a tenth of women said their investments would outperform men’s. Meantime, a separate analysis by Fidelity shows women consistently generated larger returns on read more

Who invests money better, men or women? Fidelity Investments found surprising answers to that question when it surveyed nearly 3,000 people. The group was almost evenly divided between the sexes. Yet only a tenth of women said their investments would outperform men’s. Meantime, a separate analysis by Fidelity shows women consistently generated larger returns on their investments with the company. And yet another Fidelity study reveals just a third of women surveyed see themselves as investors and barely one quarter of them say they are comfortable with their knowledge about investing. Why DO women lack confidence in their ability to make wise investments? The BIGGEST reason is because women are uninformed, and the reason women are uninformed is because they lack access to opportunities. Specifically, women don’t know how to meet the people and institutions that offer investment options beyond traditional savings methods. That is especially true in commercial real estate investment, and even more real in hotel investment. In today’s episode, we focus on women steeped in hotel investment and talk about how they are changing the dynamic in favor of female investors. These women are committed to helping women build wealth through hotel ownership. Featured are Mary Beth Cutshall, who recently founded Amara Capital, a women-only hotel investment platform; Talene Staab, global head of Tru by Hilton and founder of a new women’s advisory council; and Tracy Prigmore, founder of TLTsolutions, which is dedicated to educating women in the basics of real investment and teaching them how to steadily accumulate wealth. Resources and Links Mary Beth Cutshall, founder of Amara Capital Talene Staab, global head of Tru by Hilton Tracy Prigmore, founder of TLTsolutions NABHOOD Episode 210 featuring NABHOOD founder Andy Ingraham NABHOOD’s annual conference will take place July 24 through 26 at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay Hotel in Miami, Florida.

Many hotel-business experts believe an industry downturn is at hand. Some say it will happen as soon as next year. Others expect business to slow in 2021. So, is the forecasted slowdown based on fact, an economic algorithm, or is it more of a gut feeling? In this episode of Lodging Leaders we try to read more