The New Solution to Collaborate in Industrial Groups
The pandemic modified the best way we interacted with each other and extra importantly, modified the best way we collaborated in a enterprise setting.
Through the years, knowledge has change into extraordinarily important as a consequence of its contribution in serving to companies keep on high. They will monitor and document KPIs and thus, increase enterprise efficiency. Nonetheless, most individuals didn’t anticipate how rapidly it might change into the idea of collaboration throughout completely different stakeholders in a selected group.
The hospitality trade, too, skilled this phenomenon as individuals transitioned into the digital world. Right here is a few perception into how knowledge has helped the hospitality trade break new floor by way of collaboration.
The significance of information transparency throughout collaboration
Equal entry to knowledge is an enormous prerequisite in any collaborative effort. Actually, knowledge is particularly essential within the period of Zoom conferences and digital brainstorming classes. Everyone seems to be in several areas, scattered throughout completely different elements of the world—making knowledge transparency an important issue to maintain everybody on the identical web page.
Not solely that, knowledge ought to have three distinct qualities for strategic use:
- Clear
- Correct
- As near real-time as attainable
Folks ought to be capable of make the most of this knowledge to create one uniform purpose and undertake the motto of “one staff, one goal.” Nonetheless, this doesn’t indicate that the completely different departments don’t have targets primarily based on their very own KPIs. It solely must serve a typical umbrella purpose of accelerating income for the group at hand.
Empowering staff members on their contribution
Being part of a staff is all about empowering each other, acknowledging the work of fellow staff members. The hospitality trade notably thrives on the qualities of empathy, inclusivity and inquisitiveness. Therefore, it’s anticipated that leaders in hospitality will take the time to empower their colleagues.
For instance, holding common staff conferences bringing individuals collectively is not solely a method to compensate for the week’s progress—it permits particular person staff to understand the completely different ways in which they contribute to the corporate. In flip, this helps increase worker morale and even invitations volunteers when the time comes.
Listed below are different methods staff leaders can assist their crew really feel empowered:
1.Providing them a draft
Earlier than there’s a closing product, there’s a draft. It’s imperfect and susceptible and will require a complete vary of revisions earlier than it involves life as a closing product. Nonetheless, providing the draft to your staff is a superb method to make your staff really feel valued. It helps them understand that their inputs matter from the primary stage to the final.
2. Inviting suggestions from all staff members
As soon as this draft has gone out, the subsequent step is normally revisions. Checking off the failings and reinforcing the professionals in a draft is finest completed in a staff stuffed with brains operating full-throttle. So, open up the ground and invite worker suggestions. Encourage each member to current their opinions and tips on how to higher enhance the plan.
3. Provide periodic updates
One other good way to make sure that all stakeholders are on the identical web page is to roll out periodic updates concerning the undertaking. Ship out notifications, host staff conferences, and make bulletins concerning the undertaking’s progress. On the finish of it, maintain a joint convention and supply visibility on the kind of impression that the completely different groups have had on the undertaking.
If sure members have had a large impression on the undertaking, it’s best to allow them to know. In any case, everyone seems to be working in the direction of the identical targets, however this was solely the results of the various targets pursued by completely different groups.
Making certain that each member has an understanding of the KPIs
The hospitality trade has a variety of KPIs. Trade leaders usually assume that it may assist to chop a few of them out. It is because whereas KPIs are useful when evaluating progress, not everyone seems to be non-public to what every of them implies.
This brings us to the query – “can we actually clarify KPIs to a wider viewers?”
In all probability not. The quantity and jargon-heavy nature of the identical make it near-impossible for everybody to discern. Subsequently, the first goal of collaborating throughout channels is to make sure that each stakeholder is aware of what every KPI stands for.
It’s useful to keep in mind that whereas this clear consolidated database is effective, it isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. For instance, income managers are extremely receptive to numbers and spreadsheets of information. Alternatively, the gross sales and advertising and marketing groups responded extra positively to a visualized story of the information.
This is the reason having an automatic system that visualizes KPI numbers onto the display may be extremely useful. The completely different KPIs will inform one story. In flip, members of a related staff can draw up a speculation and hopefully suggest options.
Utilizing expertise to raise problem-solving processes
RateGain can rework how the hospitality trade collaborates and communicates between stakeholders. With the purpose of income maximization at its core, an automatic instrument like RateGain can assist to not solely remove roadblocks however elevate the entire course of.
Furthermore, it will possibly assist push for higher productiveness and improve effectivity. This fashion, issues, and processes are adopted far faster to {the marketplace} – a vital requirement in at the moment’s quickly altering enterprise local weather.
Closing ideas
In most industries worldwide, fewer than 15% of the managers make it a degree to stir engagement amongst their staff members. This can be a pitiable quantity since engagement is the one method to buzz previous the stagnation of working remotely between completely different stakeholders.
Thus, adopting knowledge and its visualization is crucial with regards to selecting up the tempo of collaboration. It’s critical to let your teammates know that they’ve a much more vital impression on how the group capabilities.
Additional, it’s essential to contain them each step of the best way. This may assist increase participation and probably permit the group to develop higher options.
Nonetheless, the best method to make sure profitable collaboration is thru a instrument that simplifies and visualizes a staff’s progress. It may well assist inform a narrative and empower staff members with the information of KPIs, making a revenue and better revenues a actuality fairly than a pipe dream.
How Submit-Pandemic Business Groups Can Bridge Silos
The 2020 pandemic has affected the world in a couple of means, particularly by way of communication inside a enterprise setting. The world noticed a whole halt in efficient collaborations, and other people had been extra disconnected than ever. Groups that typically labored comparatively harmoniously in individual had been left on the mercy of zoom and emails.
Actually, between 2019 and 2020, Professor Tiona W. Zuzul on the Harvard Enterprise College, together with 11 different researchers, studied over 360 billion emails throughout 1.3 billion accounts of 4361 organizations. They found a big enhance in enterprise silos within the 12 months 2020.
Ultimately, individuals discovered their means out of the rut to some extent. Nonetheless, bottlenecks persist as increasingly more corporations shut down their bodily places of work and go absolutely distant. In any case, as technologically dependent as we’re, some issues are greatest achieved in individual.
Nonetheless, there are methods to bridge the hole – particularly within the resort business. Let’s dive in to know how silos can have an effect on us and the way we will overcome the challenges connected to them.
Understanding silos prior to now
Discussing the previous is lower than efficient in an period that’s rightly termed the digital revolution. In any case, the sooner resort chains not often utilized any know-how. Nonetheless, it’s essential to watch the variations, particularly the significance of the totally different stakeholders and the way it has advanced. Actually, Silos existed prior to now, too, even with out a world pandemic to set off their offshoot.
Most notably, the income supervisor function has seen a slightly meek existence prior to now. The earliest resort chain techniques had no idea of a income supervisor. Historically, information assortment and processing took lengthy hours and precipitated many points for the crew.
Later, even when the income supervisor function was launched, the everlasting concept was {that a} income supervisor is an individual who sits within the basement, away from the remainder of the crew members. That they had little to do with day-to-day operations. Furthermore, they solely reported to higher-ups, such because the gross sales director.
These concepts don’t exist anymore. Income managers are on the heart of quite a lot of the business features of the enterprise. Learn alongside to know extra in regards to the evolution of the income supervisor’s function.
Function of the income supervisor
As mentioned above, silos have existed for a very long time, albeit in smaller numbers and at a extra manageable degree. With the pandemic coming into impact, these silos have elevated in quantity, and issues corresponding to information transparency have taken a backseat.
At this juncture, income managers can step in and take over the discussions surrounding the commerciality of a corporation.
Right now, each stakeholder is on a extra equal footing. Therefore income managers do not simply report back to the higher-ups anymore. Furthermore, they’ve grow to be the driving pressure behind any group – whether or not they function from a income administration heart or the resort website.
Income managers are liable for figuring out alternatives that help the resorts in receiving the best enterprise. In addition they have interaction with the gross sales and advertising and marketing groups to undertake holistic approaches by way of the business side of the corporate.
Business methods to bridge silos
Regardless of the existence of silos beforehand, the pandemic has pressured organizations to actually consider the place their organizational framework stands as we speak. House owners and majority stakeholders have requested the implementation of issues corresponding to:
- Consolidation
- Value-cutting throughout departments
- A shift from specializing in income to commercialism
1. Utilizing communication instruments that encourage collaboration
Right now, newer collaboration software program molded particularly for companies is discovering its means into the mainstream faster than ever. Thus, corporations can take into account investing in one in every of these communication instruments.
Utilizing messaging platforms like Slack or Groups can even supply an area for workers to speak with these not of their fast neighborhood. Inner social media networks like Yammer, Office, or Google Workspace may also help foster a sense of group.
Some software program is very helpful for facilitating cross-functional collaboration by permitting employees to entry information from outdoors their division. Subsequently, whether or not personnel from varied departments may work collectively on a brand new venture is value contemplating. This offers for a level of openness that has the potential to tear down partitions and bridge silos.
Furthermore, utilizing a device particularly normal to serve the resort business, corresponding to RateGain, will be particularly useful in fixing the issue of monitoring KPIs that time in direction of:
- Buyer acquisition and retention
- Income maximization
- Integration
2. Encouraging collaboration coaching
There are quite a few enterprise coaching choices, together with those who encourage workers to study new communication strategies. This promotes higher crew collaboration.
Coaching specialists are usually thinking about deciphering why teams talk with each other within the method that they do. They query workers’ assumptions about others in addition to their views in regards to the firm’s tradition.
Some organizations will try to “reprogram” workers’ interpersonal talents. They may help them in being extra tolerant of their colleagues.
This encourages people with a silo mindset to consider the emotions of others who are usually not of their silo. Whereas pricey, if the siloing is extreme, it could be the most suitable choice for growing total empathy and eradicating divides.
3. Connecting individuals through a typical aim
One of many points with communication silos is the existence of competing pursuits. Staff are break up into totally different teams once they wouldn’t in any other case be. And there’s no subject with it. Nonetheless, striving for an overarching goal that promotes the corporate’s better pursuits is essential.
One of the best technique to advertise cohesiveness amongst workers is to attach them to an organization aim. Staff needs to be inspired to speak on one thing that characterizes the corporate as a complete.
Another choice is for the advertising and marketing division to draft an inner manifesto. This fosters a shared understanding of what the group represents and what it aspires to realize. It could possibly assist preserve employees engaged and assist them visualize their contributions to the group.
The highway forward
The inevitability of enterprise evolution is obvious in the way in which enterprise silos have remodeled from the times earlier than a income supervisor. Siloing was among the many foreseeable modifications that the resort business would witness. With the daybreak of the pandemic, the method has solely accelerated.
However as we speak, we personal the assets to fill this divide and create a stronger office. The income supervisor is the brand new business supervisor who leads the discussions on how resorts can maximize earnings. And never simply by way of rooms and F&B, but in addition by way of price of acquisition.
They’ve gone from segments to specializing in section channels to drive and maximize the alternatives deciphered due to income managers. The opposite groups use these insights to develop objectives that may assist one central aim – driving earnings for the group.
Not solely that, enterprise communication instruments, collaboration coaching employees, and even making a manifesto may also help take away firmer silos. This may encourage an atmosphere of camaraderie and togetherness. Nonetheless, the one foolproof solution to discover the fitting footing in such a state of affairs is by adopting a device corresponding to RateGain – a software program specialised for bridging gaps within the resort business.
Inns can’t forcibly acquire service prices from clients, says senior official
“Charging service prices from clients will now value the resort and restaurant house owners. If a buyer needs to pay a service cost of his personal free will, then it’s a completely different matter however resort house owners can’t forcibly acquire service prices from clients,” Further Secretary within the Authorities of India (Client Affairs), Nidhi Khare informed ANI.
She additionally knowledgeable that the authorities have launched a helpline quantity ‘1915’ for the shoppers.
“If a buyer is a sufferer of extortion, then the Nationwide Client Safety Authority has issued a helpline quantity for such clients for complaints, which would be the helpline quantity 1915,” she added.
Khare discovered it stunning and referred to as it double prices on clients.
“Service cost is added to no matter meals is served after which GST tax is levied on the overall quantity which is a double whammy on the purchasers,” she famous.
The rules issued by CCPA on Monday stipulate that resorts or eating places shall not add service prices robotically or by default to the meals invoice. No assortment of service cost shall be executed by some other identify. No resort or restaurant shall power a shopper to pay a service cost and shall clearly inform the buyer that the service cost is voluntary, elective and on the shopper’s discretion.
No restriction on entry or provision of providers based mostly on a set of service prices shall be imposed on shoppers. The service cost shall not be collected by including it together with the meals invoice and levying GST on the overall quantity. The rules might be accessed by clicking on the hyperlink.
Role of Technological Partnerships in Hotel Operations
In today’s fast-paced world, hoteliers face a myriad of challenges in managing their operations efficiently while ensuring exceptional guest experiences. However, there is a solution at hand – strategic technological partnerships. These collaborations offer innovative solutions that streamline processes, boost efficiency, and ultimately make life easier for hoteliers.
But to truly understand the transformative power of technological collaborations in the hospitality industry, it is important to understand the challenges faced by hoteliers.
Challenges in Hotel Operations
Hoteliers often encounter operational challenges that hinder efficiency and compromise guest satisfaction. These challenges include time-consuming administrative tasks, the need for seamless communication across departments, and managing multiple systems and platforms. Moreover, keeping up with evolving guest expectations and staying competitive in the digital age poses further challenges for hoteliers.
Thankfully, hoteliers can overcome these operational challenges through strategic technological partnerships. Let us now understand how.
Role of Technological Partnerships for Streamlined Hotel Operations
Technological partnerships offer hoteliers the opportunity to overcome operational challenges and streamline their daily processes. By integrating property management systems (PMS) with other hotel systems such as revenue management, guest relationship management, and housekeeping solutions, hoteliers can automate repetitive tasks, streamline communication, and consolidate data. This integration eliminates silos and provides a holistic view of hotel operations, enabling more efficient decision-making and resource allocation.
Moreover, such cloud-based solutions allow seamless access to data and systems from any location.
Embracing the Power of Cloud-Based Solutions
With seamless access to data and systems from any location, hoteliers gain real-time information and the flexibility to manage their properties remotely. This accessibility enhances operational agility and enables hoteliers to respond swiftly to changing market demands.
Collaborating with technology providers brings forth a range of benefits for hoteliers.
Benefits of Collaborative Innovation
Enhanced Guest Satisfaction through Personalized Experiences
One key advantage is improved guest satisfaction through personalized experiences. By leveraging guest data from multiple touchpoints, such as online bookings and guest feedback, hoteliers can tailor services to individual preferences, anticipate guest needs, and deliver personalized recommendations. This level of personalization enhances guest loyalty and overall satisfaction.
Optimized Revenue Management
Optimizing revenue management is crucial for hoteliers seeking sustainable business growth. By integrating revenue management systems with distribution channels, hotels can automate pricing decisions, monitor market trends, and maximize revenue potential.
This collaboration allows for dynamic pricing strategies based on demand and competitor analysis, ensuring optimal revenue generation and increased profitability.
Effective Channel Management for Revenue Maximization
Maximizing revenue through effective channel management is paramount for hoteliers. Embracing channel managers helps overcome distribution challenges, optimize rates and availability, and expand reach across multiple channels. The streamlined distribution process, centralized inventory control, and data-driven insights provided by channel managers empower hoteliers to make informed decisions, enhance revenue generation, and ultimately drive success in the dynamic hospitality industry.
Read More: Revolutionizing Guest Experiences & Revenue Management with AI
Read More: Navigating Hotel Distribution Challenges with Technology & Strategy
Technological partnerships play a pivotal role in simplifying the lives of hoteliers by addressing operational challenges and unlocking a multitude of benefits. By collaborating with innovative technology providers, hoteliers can streamline operations, improve guest satisfaction, and optimize revenue management.
As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, embracing these partnerships becomes increasingly crucial for hoteliers to stay competitive, enhance efficiency, and deliver exceptional experiences to their guests.
About the Author
Jaume Esteban Palette
Manager, Strategic Partnerships
RateGain
As Occupancy Stalls, Parking Drives Hotel Revenue Growth
By Robert Mandelbaum and Todd Casper
Based on the February 2023 Hotel Horizons® report, CBRE is forecasting that total hotel revenue for the average US hotel returned to pre-COVID levels in 2022. This occurred despite the fact that the average occupancy for US hotels is not expected to exceed 2019 levels until 2026.
With occupancy levels lagging during the post-COVID recovery and guest counts depressed, hotel owners and operators have had to look for alternative sources of revenue beyond the rental of guest rooms to make up for the income deficits. For some hotels in the US, parking has become a profitable source of revenue since COVID and helped fill in the revenue gap.
The increase in parking revenue has occurred, in part, because an increasing number of hotels started to charge guests for on-site parking. In 2019, 17.0 percent of all the hotels in CBRE’s annual Trends® in the Hotel Industry database reported parking revenue. This number rises to 20.4 percent in 2022. Further, hotels that already managed a parking operation before COVID increased the price they charged guests to park their cars.
To analyze the increase in US hotel parking revenue, CBRE studied a sample of 520 hotels that reported parking revenue for our annual Trends® survey each year from 2019 through 2022. In 2022, these hotels averaged 324 rooms in size, an occupancy of 65.4 percent, an average daily rate of $245.25, and a RevPAR[1] of $157.05, versus the $163.07 RevPAR achieved in 2019. Since the sample consists solely of properties that reported parking revenue, it is skewed toward full-service hotels located in urban areas. This explains the relatively high room counts and ADRs for the sample.
Revenue Growth
Since larger, urban hotels have suffered the most during the pandemic, it is not a surprise that the average property in our sample has yet to return to their pre-COVID levels of total hotel revenue. On average, 2022 total revenue for the study sample is just 95.9 percent of 2019 total revenue.
However, parking revenue for properties in the study sample is 103.1 percent of 2019 levels. This is particularly noteworthy because the number of rooms occupied at the average property in the sample from 2022 was still 14.6 percent less than in 2019. Parking revenue, which is measured on a per-occupied-room (POR) basis, was 20.7 percent higher in 2022 compared to 2019, there is a clear indication that hotels have significantly increased the price they charge guests to park. Parking rate increases are not only an effective way to increase revenue, but they also help offset inflationary pressures on operating expenses.
Consistent with macro travel trends, resort hotels, as well as properties located in resort/destination locations, enjoyed the greatest increase in parking revenue from 2019 to 2022, both on a POR and per-available-room basis. This implies increases in both parking prices and business volume. Limited-service and extended-stay hotels appear to have benefited from their relatively strong performance to drive parking revenue during the post-COVID recovery period. Airport properties were another group of hotels that took advantage of their location to be creative and generate more revenue from their parking lot or garage.
Several factors currently influence the decisions hotel managers make as they set parking rates:
- Kastle Systems, in conjunction with CBRE, has reported that office occupancy levels in the urban core of major US markets have just returned to the 50 percent level. This has left a surplus of available parking spots in several downtown markets. A surplus of parking in urban areas can mute the ability of hotels to raise parking rates as lots and garage owners struggle to gain market share.
- On the other hand, the surplus of parking spaces provides urban hotel owners and operators an opportunity to lease multiple parking spots at nearby lots and garages at relatively low rates. Hotels can then capitalize on their lower cost basis and maximize profits.
- Like guest rooms, hotel parking spaces are not subject to long-term leases. Therefore, hotel parking lots can utilize technology and dynamic pricing techniques to maximize revenue during different market conditions.
- Hotel guests do not typically choose a hotel based on the cost of parking. However, location is frequently cited as an important factor. If guests must drive to stay at the preferred location, then the hotel gains pricing leverage.
Impact on Revenue
Despite these growth figures, parking is still a minor source of revenue for hotels. In 2022, parking revenue for the average hotel in our study sample was 3.1 percent of total revenue. However, parking revenue has grown faster (3.1 percent) than total hotel revenue (2.8 percent) from 2019 to 2022. Parking as a percent of total revenue peaked in 2020 and 2021, highlighting the increased reliability of hoteliers on this alternative source of revenue during the height of the pandemic.
When analyzing the sample by property type, parking revenue made up the greatest share of total revenue at extended-stay hotels (5.3 percent) and all-suite hotels (4.9 percent) during 2022. Urban (3.7 percent) and airports (3.5 percent) hotels enjoyed the greatest contribution from parking revenues when segregated by location category.
Parking Profits
Consistent with the increase in revenue, hotel parking profits have increased from 2019 to 2022. On average, the properties in our sample achieved parking department profits during 2022 that were 8.7 percent greater than 2019 profit levels. Resort hotels, as well as properties in resort and airport locations, achieved the greatest gains in parking department profits.
Unfortunately, parking operations are relatively expensive to run compared to other minor operated departments. The average profit margin for a parking department in 2022 was 60.2%. This is less than the 62.1 percent average profit margin for all minor operated departments. Per the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry, the profit margins are calculated before the deduction for overhead expenses such as administration, marketing, maintenance, utilities, property taxes, and insurance.
There are several ways in which hotel owners and operators can maximize revenues and profits from parking. Managing costs, whether parking is being operated in-house or by a third party, is critical in capitalizing on this growing revenue stream.
What Should Hotel Owners be Considering?
Drive Parking Net Income by Evaluating Expenses
Parking expense considerations include evaluating the need for valet versus self-park only operations. Valet services are labor intensive and increasingly costly in today’s labor-constrained market. Technology improvements can be a way of reducing ongoing operating costs with pay-on-foot machines or even gateless app-based technology.
Other market-specific factors impacting the bottom line of hotel parking operations include parking sales tax, if any, in a local market. Urban markets vary from having no parking sales tax to potential taxes at the city, county, and state levels. In addition, the allocation of hotel expenses to parking operations can significantly impact the net income associated with parking. Property taxes, insurance, utilities and other allocations are often out of date and require refinement to optimize parking profitability. Expenses, such as security, cleaning and enhanced lighting, typically improve the perception of a parking facility and can drive long-term parking demands.
In-House vs. Third-Party Operators
Deciding whether to operate parking in-house versus with a third-party operator or parking management company is worth considering in urban parking markets. Third-party operators are often well-connected with other parking demand generators in the area and can tap into their network of parking aggregators to source e-commerce traffic. Third-party operators can also target the surrounding area for parking users who can capitalize on hotel parking spaces during non-peak hotel times.
Since the pandemic, third-party operators are less inclined to enter into long-term lease commitments, preferring management contracts or short-term agreements with less financial risk. Third-party operators can be motivated to perform with incentive-based contracts that offer upside to the operator and enhance the bottom line for parking operations. Operators will typically not assume the risk for property taxes assessed or allocated to the garage.
Own vs. Lease Hotel Parking
Should hotel owners own their parking or simply control it with long-term rights or an access agreement? As alternative investments gain favor in investment portfolios, urban parking is generating increased attention from private and institutional capital as well as infrastructure funds. Urban parking assets can offer investors well-located, covered land plays, attractive yields and the ability to quickly mark prices to market rates in an environment of high inflation.
Parking garages and surface lots supporting hotels are increasingly being bifurcated from the hospitality ownership structure to take advantage of cap rate arbitrage of the parking asset compared to the hotel. Hotel owners don’t necessarily need to own their parking, but at a minimum, they need long-term access or rights to parking. Well-located, urban parking garages with multiple demand generators often trade at aggressive cap rates, particularly in supply-constrained urban markets.
This article was originally published in the June 2023 edition of Lodging and has been shared on HFTP Connect for the benefit of HFTP hotel finance members.
Todd Casper is First Vice President of Parking Investment Sales for CBRE. Robert Mandelbaum is Research Director for CBRE Hotels Research. For guidance on your hotel’s parking operations, Todd can be reached at [email protected]. This article was published in the June 2023 edition of Lodging.
[1] Rooms Revenue per Available Room
Taylor Swift parties, events before Eras Tour in Denver on July 14, 15
Whether or not you’re going to Taylor Swift’s concerts at Empower Field at Mile High next week, you’re in good company.
Fans of the singer-songwriter and her Eras Tour, which plays Denver on Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15, scrambled to snag tickets the moment they went on sale earlier this year, ensuring both instant sell-outs and disappointment.
But anyone can attend these parallel yet separate Swift-themed events, in which boutique hotels, promoters, bars and upscale shopping complexes cater to people coming to (and from) the shows in downtown Denver. Getting a piece of that action means meeting fans where they are. Literally.
Here’s a quick roundup of Swift-related events that are open to the public, both free and paid. Watch for The Denver Post’s photo slideshow and review of the tour’s opening night in Denver, to be posted on July 15 on denverpost.com/things-to-do/music, and check out a review and photos of her 2018 Reputation Tour show at Empower Field at bit.ly/44dZdAz.
Taylor Swift silent disco
The McGregor Square complex across from Coors Field in Lower Downtown is diving in early with a silent disco and related events on Saturday, July 8. Each $30 admission includes a silent-disco headset to hear a pair of DJs spinning Swift hits “from every era to dance and sing along to,” as well as beer or seltzer included and access to a friendship bracelet-making station, “the Eras Tour must-have accessory.”
There are, of course, Swift-inspired cocktails such as Champagne Problems and Lavender Haze, and The OG and Rally bars will also be serving Swiftie cocktails. Tickets are $30 per person, or $10 for people who book a room on the same night at the Rally Hotel on-site. eventbrite.com or finallyhotel.com
Early Taylor Swift pre-parties
Other events are popping up a week early to take advantage of the run-up to the show: the Queer Taylor Swift pre-party at Denver’s Goldspot Brewing Company welcomes Gaylors (Swifties who theorize that she’s secretly gay) and everyone else with a costume contest , friendship bracelets and flash tattoos, from 3 to 8 pm on Saturday, July 8. The event is free but donations will be collected to benefit nonprofits Khesed Wellness and The Delores Project. eventbrite.com
On July 13, the night before the first concert, Mile High Spirits is also holding a pre-party featuring “all Taylor Swift, all night long” music ($10; eventbrite.com).
Swifties at the Station
The 1-7 pm celebration on July 14 and 15 at Denver’s Union Station will feature DJ Chris C playing fan-favorite Taylor Swift tunes, a “face rhinestone artist” and a pop-up by LINK x LOU “to help you level up your friendship-bracelet game,” organizers wrote. You can also pose for photos in a booth and enter a Best Dressed raffle for prizes that include a one-night stay at The Crawford with a $100 Denver Union Station gift card.
“Terminal Bar will also be pouring special Taylor Swift cocktails, including the Cruel Summer, a Taylor Spritz, a Blank Space and a Lavender Haze, made with Tito’s Vodka, black tea, lavender, Butterfly Pea Syrup, lemon and soda water,” according to the press release. Anyone who buys food or drink from Terminal Bar on July 15 can also take a free TukTuk ride directly to Empower Field from 3:30 to 7:30 pm Events are free but RSVPs are encouraged via eventbrite.com. More at denverunionstation.com/events/swifties-at-the-station
“You Belong With Me” at Thompson Denver
The year-old Thompson Denver hotel is also going the lux route on July 14 and 15 with its Champagne Problems brunch, featuring specials by the bottle or glass, the Lavender Haze cocktail throughout the hotel, a “special merch stand for the ultimate friendship bracelets and temporary tattoos” (think 13 and 22, organizers said), and a “Cruel Summer” party in Reynard Social with Eras songs by Cyberkid. Note: Overnight hotel rates for these dates start at about $800. hyatt.com/thompson-hotels/denth-thompson-denver
Taylor Swift Glam Makeup Experience
LoDo’s Maven Hotel and Poka Lola Social Club joined forces at The Dairy Block for a Glam Makeup Experience on July 14 and 15, with Denver artist Makeup by Peaches “helping fans to rock Taylor’s signature red lip or add a pop of glitter and color to your already fabulous outfit,” organizers wrote. Timed slots are available 2-6 pm both days for $10 per person. Poka Lola will have the Champagne Problems and Lavender Haze cocktails on both days. Registration is required at eventbrite.com. More at themavenhotel.com
Swift City
This elaborate tailgate party will be set up across from Empower Field along Federal Boulevard from 3 to 6 pm on July 14 with food and drinks, activity booths, DJs, selfie backdrops and more ($25). If you can’t go to the show, they’re also hosting a listening party during it ($25) and a 21-and-up post-concert dance party ($25). The Can’t Stop Won’t Stop bundle includes all of the events ($60). eventbrite.com
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Leveraging the Power of the Metaverse
Written by: Juliette Girardin
Event risk management is critical to ensuring the safety and security of attendees, personnel and the venue. It takes time and effort to identify, assess and mitigate possible risks to an event’s success. Yet, because most events are constructed over a few days and only happen once a year, it is difficult to think of all the possibilities. With the rise of the metaverse, the work of risk managers may become more effective and secure. The metaverse is a multi-user virtual area in which people can engage with each other and with virtual items in a completely immersive and interactive environment. The metaverse’s potential applications are numerous, and one area where it can be especially effective is in enhancing risk management in events.
The hospitality industry, particularly the events sector, is no stranger to risk management. Event organizers have to deal with a multitude of risks ranging from security, health and safety, financial, legal and reputational risks, among others. However, traditional risk management systems sometimes fall short because they rely on antiquated methods such as paper-based forms and checklists, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.
The metaverse, on the other hand, provides a unique opportunity to enhance risk management in events by creating a virtual space where organizers can simulate and test different scenarios, identify potential risks and develop appropriate mitigation strategies. Here are some ways in which the metaverse can help improve risk management in events:
Virtual simulation and training
The metaverse can be used by event organizers to simulate various scenarios and test their risk management strategies. For example, organizers can simulate a fire or a terrorist attack and train staff on how to respond to such situations. This can help reduce the risk of panic and confusion during an actual event.
Real-time monitoring and response
The metaverse can also be used to monitor events in real-time, using sensors and other technologies to detect potential risks such as overcrowding, security breaches or equipment failures. This can help event organizers to respond quickly and effectively to any potential issues, minimizing the impact on attendees and the event itself.
Data analytics and risk modelling
The metaverse can serve as a platform for data analytics and risk modeling platform, allowing event organizers to analyze data from previous events and identify potential risks. This can help develop more accurate risk assessments and enable organizers to implement more effective risk management strategies.
Improved communication and collaboration
The metaverse can also improve communication and collaboration among event organizers, personnel and other stakeholders. By creating a shared virtual space, organizers can work together to identify potential risks and develop appropriate responses. This can help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that risks are managed effectively.
In conclusion, the metaverse provides a unique opportunity to enhance risk management in events by creating a virtual space where organizers can simulate different scenarios, monitor events in real-time, analyze data, and improve communication and collaboration. By leveraging the capabilities of the metaverse, event organizers can develop more effective risk management strategies, ultimately creating safer and more secure events for attendees.
This blog post was awarded Second Place in the Spring 2023 HFTP/MS Global Hospitality Business Graduate Student Blog Competition presented by the HFTP Foundation. The blog posts that received the top scores will be published on HFTP Connect through July 2023. Learn more at HFTP News.
Juliette Girardin is a graduate student of the Master of Science in Global Hospitality Business, a partnership between the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at the University of Houston, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and EHL.
Thank You Booking.com For Showing Us The Future
For the last five years, travel has been all about sustainability, recovery, and – for the last few weeks – generative AI. And while all of these are highly relevant topics, there’s only one thing that ties them together – Diversity, and knowing that each person is different and is looking for unique and personalized experiences that cater to their individual needs and preferences.
This is where, at the recently concluded Click. 2023 event, Booking.com showed us the future of travel and hospitality.
The Changing Traveler and the Future of Travel
The 2023 Travel Predictions by Booking.com showcased at the event highlighting the importance of customization. And here’s how the hoteliers can leverage these trends to stay on top.
1. 55% of travelers are planning to spend their vacations off the grid.
As most travelers are looking for off-grid style vacations to escape reality in 2023, a rise in eco-friendly stays that embrace natural surroundings and sustainability is expected.
For those hotels who have already been investing in sustainability, it is pivotal to make the guests aware of the same. They can do so by indicating the sustainability practices implemented on the extranet, which can then be displayed on their property page on booking.com as part of its Travel Sustainable Programme.
Read Also: How Green is your Hotel? Do Good and Show it to the World – on Google
2. 42% of travelers will focus on mental health and mindfulness.
While highlighting the wellness facilities that the hotel currently offers – such as spas, gyms, etc. – is pivotal to drive growth for businesses, it is also important to partner with local businesses outside that provide additional wellness experiences. These additional experiences can then be offered to the guests.
Hotels can also share information about local groups or attractions that might be relevant to certain niche groups – either pre-trip (window between the booking and the actual trip), or during the stay with the help of guest engagement solutions.
3. 43% of travelers will use virtual reality to find travel inspiration.
Metaverse, and virtual or augmented reality offer people a new way to experience travel. While 43% of global travelers claim that technology will inspire their 2023 travel choices, 60% of travelers still believe that such experiences are unlikely to be replaced by in-person travel any time soon.
Investing in high-quality images and extended reality content such as virtual property tours can make the hotel property stand out, and help potential guests imagine themselves in these properties. Thereby inspiring them to experience the stay in the physical world as well.
4. The future of travel and hospitality lies in the understanding that each person is different.
The bold & impressive stance around DE&I was truly the highlight of the event. At the event, Booking.com showed us that it is this diversity that makes travel so exciting and enriching.
The tagline at the photo – “We filter places, not people.” – encapsulates the idea that diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of travel. It is through experiences that we get to know different people and cultures, and it is essential that we provide customized experiences that cater to the needs of different individuals and groups.
Here are four tips for hoteliers who might not be already doing this:
a. Show all your facilities that meet the accessibility requirements
Hoteliers should highlight the accessibility features of their facilities and services, such as wheelchair ramps, bathroom grab bars, and designated parking spaces for those who may have mobility needs. They should also showcase their staff’s training to provide assistance to guests who require support and offer information on nearby accessible attractions and transportation options. This information can be prominently displayed on their website and in promotional materials to ensure that all guests feel welcomed and valued.
b. Make your content more gender-neutral and diverse
It is crucial for hoteliers to create content that is inclusive and welcoming to all guests, regardless of gender identity or expression. They can use gender-neutral language in their descriptions of amenities and services to make sure they don’t alienate guests with different gender identities. Hoteliers should also consider creating separate rooms or spaces for guests who don’t feel comfortable staying in traditional male or female accommodations.
c. Show diversity through images
Hoteliers should showcase diversity in their promotional materials, including images of guests from different backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures. These images can be displayed on their website, social media accounts, and marketing materials to show potential guests that they are welcome and included in the hotel’s community. They can also highlight local cultural events and activities to encourage guests to explore and learn about the diversity of the surrounding area.
d. Share information around local groups or attractions that might be relevant to certain niche groups
For hotels that attract guests from different countries, it is important to provide information in multiple languages. This includes translating their website, brochures, and other marketing materials into the languages that their potential guests speak. Hoteliers should also consider hiring multilingual staff to assist guests who don’t speak the local language. By providing these services, hoteliers can ensure that all guests feel comfortable and included during their stay.
The Click. 2023 event by Booking.com was indeed an incredible experience that showed us the future of travel and hospitality. The onus is upon us to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion in the travel industry, and deliver the perfect experience for every guest.
About the Author
Mark Haywood
SVP & General Manager – Europe and Africa
RateGain