Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Hawaii

Luxury hotels are enjoying a growing demand for rooms among tourists and business travelers, according to a Luxury Hotel Market Report released by Research and Markets, a Dublin-based market research provider.

The global luxury hotel market was valued at $15.5 billion in 2015 and is projected to reach $20.4 billion by 2022, the report concluded. The projected figures represent a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4 percent from 2016 to 2022.

The business hotels segment accounted for approximately 42 percent of the total market revenue in 2015, Research and Markets stated. The business hotels segment is expected to dominate the market throughout the period, thanks in part to business travelers and small-conference groups. Research and Markets attributes the increase among consumers to a growing preference for leisure travel, and improved standards of living.

Sheetanshu Upadhayay, research analyst at Allied Market Research, said a rise in the number of business travelers and changes in customer lifestyles have fueled the demand for luxury stays, along with an increased trend toward various luxury spas and resorts. Upadhayay warned, however, the current premium price that luxury brand hotels are able to charge could restrain overall market growth.

Additional Key Findings

  • North America is projected to maintain its leading position throughout 2022, growing at a CAGR of 5.1 percent from 2016–2022.
  • The United States comprised four-fifths of the total North American luxury hotel market in 2015.
  • Mexico is expected to grow at the fastest rate, with a CAGR of 6.6 percent from 2016–2022.
  • North America and Europe combined accounted for about two-thirds of the total luxury hotel market size in 2015.
  • Airport hotels accounted for approximately 20 percent of the overall luxury hotel market revenue in 2015 and are expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.7 percent through 2022.

lost luggage

Whether or not to check your luggage is the age-old question every traveler must ask themselves.  The confines of carry-on size luggage may limit your packing space, but is it worth the risk of losing checked luggage? Regardless of the precautions taken, a certain anxiety emerges at check-in as the conveyor belt carries your precious luggage away until landing. Well, as it turns out, there’s no reason to panic after all.

The Unclaimed Baggage Center (UBC) is a unique organization that buys lost luggage from airlines and sells the ownerless products inside them. Recently, UBC published a fact sheet based on some fascinating statistics and information obtained from working with lost luggage.

“One of the fears of traveling is not finding your bag once you reach your destination. We thought we would share what we have learned from over 45 years in the business of lost luggage to clear up some misconceptions,” says Brenda Cantrell, brand ambassador for UBC.

1. It is extraordinarily rare to lose your bag forever. Roughly 1 percent of bags fail to meet owners at the carousel. Within a period of 24 hours, 80 to 90 percent of these missing bags are found. By five days, 95 to 98 percent are returned to their owners, and over the subsequent period of 90 days or more, more than half of remaining bags are returned. These numbers point to a truly infinitesimal chance of losing your bag forever.

2. Unclaimed luggage is taken to Scottsboro, Alabama. Once the airlines have conducted an extensive, 90-day search for baggage owners, items still unclaimed will be brought to UBC. Their 40,000 sq. ft. store is located in Scottsboro, Alabama. Only about one-third of purchased items make it to the retail store, but these still account for 7,000 new items on a daily basis. Unclaimed baggage items which aren’t sold are either trashed or donated.

3. Lost luggage contains a wide variety of contents. Unclaimed Baggage has received a truly diverse mix of unclaimed items over the years, including everything from moldy cheese to wedding dresses to a live snake. It’s not all garbage and garments though—sometimes unclaimed baggage holds high value items. Valuable items are typically jewelry, electronics and historical documents. The highest priced item obtained by UBC was a men’s Presidential Platinum Rolex watch. The watch was valued at an original price of $65,000 and was sold by UBC for just $23,000.

4. Unclaimed Baggage Center offers one-of-a-kind shopping. Unclaimed Baggage Center covers more than one city block, drawing in more than one million visitors per year from every state and more than 40 foreign countries. Products offered include a wide variety of items, such as thrifted clothing, electronics, books, jewelry, home goods and more.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City

The former Taj Mahal building in Atlantic City, New Jersey, has a new boss. Hard Rock International announced it has purchased majority ownership in the Taj Mahal from investor Carl Icahn.

The acquisition was announced during an event attended by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian and Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International, which is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Thanks to a partnership between Hard Rock International and the Morris and Jingoli families, the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is scheduled for a summer 2018 grand opening after undergoing a planned $375 million renovation.

The acquisition is expected to create 1,000 jobs during construction and 3,000 permanent jobs after opening of the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the new partners announced.

“From world-renowned music events to innovative dining concepts, we’re excited to bring the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino experience to the Atlantic City boardwalk, which has been home to our Hard Rock Cafe for more than twenty years,” Allen said. “Our commitment to Atlantic City has never been stronger and we look forward to being a catalyst for further growth and development of the area.”

Situated on 17 acres of Atlantic City Boardwalk real estate, the property has views of the city and Atlantic Ocean. In addition to redesigning the entrance to fit the Hard Rock theme, renovations will include a new check-in experience, lobby lounge and complete revamping of guest rooms.

Meeting space will be updated to accommodate a range of functions, from intimate gatherings to large conventions. The existing Hard Rock Cafe in Atlantic City is expected to move to a new 400-seat venue within the future casino. In addition, live music, sporting events, conferences and shows will have two arenas, comprising 7,000 total seats, available for bookings.

“The Morris and Jingoli families are honored and excited to partner with Hard Rock International in the rebuilding of Atlantic City,” said Jack Morris, CEO of Edgewood Properties.

A big part of bringing the Hard Rock experience to Atlantic City entails featuring world-famous musicians and recording artists who emerged from New Jersey. The new casino, set to include 2,400 slots and 130 table games, will incorporate Hard Rock’s signature museum-like wall-mounted displays of music history.

“Memorabilia for the hotel will be carefully hand-selected with a focus on contemporary musicians and artists who call New Jersey home,” Hard Rock International announced.

“Atlantic City has a rich and dynamic history and we are so proud to help recapture that greatness,” Morris said.

With 400,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 16+ million gallons of water fun in indoor and outdoor waterparks, there’s no reason business and pleasure can’t mix in “The Waterpark Capital of the World!®“. Attract a crowd with an unforgettable meeting in Wisconsin Dells.

Meeting Space

In addition to being a top destination for tourism, Wisconsin Dells is a top destination for meetings. The Dells hosts more than 5,600 meetings and conventions each year. The unique meeting and convention venues range in size from 250 sq. ft. to 90,000 sq. ft., with state-of-the-art-facilities and personalized planning services. Newer conference facilities at many of the area’s waterpark resorts and convention centers inspire business groups, making it easy to meet there.

Accommodations

With more than 8,000 rooms, from hotel suites, to a rustic retreat, to lakeside condominiums, Wisconsin Dells offers a wide variety of lodging options for groups of all sizes. However, it’s the waterpark resorts that are the biggest draw. They’re great fun for grown-ups and a plus for attendees who want to bring along the kids and spouse.

Attractions

There’s nothing like a waterpark to rev up attendance and Wisconsin Dells knows waterparks. It’s home to more than 200 waterslides in just 19-square miles. In addition to being home to America’s largest outdoor waterpark and the largest combination indoor/outdoor waterpark resort, the area boasts a variety of other distinctive activities as well.

Attendees may enjoy a relaxing trip down the Wisconsin River on one of the scenic boat or “Duck tours,” roll the dice at the casino, unwind at a spa, or play a round of golf on one of the world-class courses. Add hiking and horseback riding, four-season amusement parks, great restaurants, unique shopping, live shows and more; and they’ve got you covered no matter your group’s range of interests, budgets, or needs.

Take advantage of free personalized planning materials and assistance when organizing your next meeting or convention. Call (888) 339-3822, ext. 345, or visit MeetInTheDells.com to start planning today!

second annual GMID

Happy Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID)! Today, April 6, marks the second annual GMID, led by the advocacy coalition Meetings Mean Business. From Asia to Africa to North America and Europe, more than 175 industry organizations and chapters have united to celebrate how awesome and impactful face-to-face meetings are. The types of events held include educational and networking events, panels with industry professionals, roundtables, rallies and strategic sessions.

The purpose of GMID is for meetings and events industry professionals to demonstrate and celebrate the significant impact that meetings have on local economies and communities.  Last year was the inaugural year of GMID, and its events were remarkable. It featured more than 115 events in more than 30 countries, spanning five continents.

Today has been even bigger and better. Thousands of industry professionals engaged in activities and opened up conversations about the importance of in-person meetings. Here are some ways that planners from all over the globe participated!

 

https://twitter.com/SmartMtgsDan/status/850042608541986816

Other notable GMID events

Asturias, Spain: Networking sessions and educational programs took place throughout the region’s four main cities (Oviedo, Gijón, Avilés).

Atlantic City: Panel and educational sessions on the importance of in-person meetings. Our very own Dan Johnson, chief copy editor, was on the scene!

Austin: Two informative panels that will focusing on economic impact and safety and security of the meetings industry.

Cologne, Germany: Planners engaged in practice cases.

Helsinki, Finland: Four high-level politicians, representing different parties and geographical regions, met with the industry for a panel discussion.

Las Vegas: Rotating meetings scenarios on the High Roller Observation Wheel.

Lusaka, Zambia: Sustainable meetings and events forum.

New York City: The Empire State Building was lit in shades of blue, along with other shows of support throughout the city, including a large-scale ad in Times Square.

Panama City, Panama: Press conference with elected officials.

Penang, Malaysia: Proclamation from the Chief Minister.

San Francisco: Networking reception for hospitality associations at AT&T Park.

Tokyo, Japan: Professionals celebrated GMID for the first time in Japan.

Toronto, Canada: New meeting professionals’ question-and-answer session.

Wellington, New Zealand: Breakfast celebration of women in the meetings industry.

renovationPhoto credit: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP/ rendering by Methanoia Inc.

On March 29, Waldorf Astoria New York released plans for the restoration and revitalization of the landmark’s exterior and interior. In a submission for public review by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, the historic property shares images of the plan designed by a world-class team, including Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and renowned interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR).

SOM will be leading the architectural design team. The architectural firm has overseen restoration and adaptive reuse projects for other New York City landmarks, including the in-progress renovation of Penn Station, which will become Moynihan Train Hall; the General Electric Building; and Lever House, which became New York City’s second curtain wall skyscraper when it was completed in 1952. PYR will lead the interior segment of the project, which includes both public and guest room areas. PYR is well-suited for the task with expertise in redesigning five-star luxury hotels, including the upcoming Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, which is scheduled to open in June.

renovationPhoto credit: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP/ rendering by Methanoia Inc.

“Protecting the spirit of this iconic property and reflecting its history through a modern, more forward-thinking lens will be at the heart of the hotel’s interior design. From the overall atmosphere down to the finest Art Deco details, American grandeur and international glamour will meet in the Waldorf Astoria New York—no other hotel in New York will compare,” says Pierre-Yves Rochon, principal and global design director of PYR.

If the plan is approved, the luxury property will recover key elements of its original Art Deco form. Overall, the goal is to preserve the original experience while providing an improved guest experience through modernized functionality. After all, there’s no question that a New York hotel as lavish as Waldorf Astoria needs the latest features and capabilities.

renovationPhoto credit: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP/ rendering by Methanoia Inc.

“We are at an exciting and transformative point in Waldorf Astoria’s renowned history, during which time Waldorf Astoria New York will be restored to its original grandeur while maintaining a modern and inspirational look and feel,” says John T. A. Vanderslice, global head of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts. “It is an honor to be working with such a talented architectural and design team to breathe new life into this iconic hotel and provide unparalleled True Waldorf Service to its future guests.”

The Waldorf Astoria plans to restore all of the hotel’s spaces, making public and event spaces accessible for many years to come. Already, the hotel restoration is one of the most extensive and intricate in New York’s preservation history. The luxury property originally opened in 1893 at the present site of the Empire State Building. It opened at its current Park Avenue location in 1931, and in 1993 the Waldorf Astoria was honored as an official New York City landmark. This year, the most significant interior spaces were qualified as landmarks as well.

renovationPhoto credit: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP/ rendering by Methanoia Inc.

The Waldorf Astoria will feature new guest rooms, suites and condominiums when it reopens in two to three years. Once open, the hotel will continue to be managed by Hilton as part of a 100-year management agreement.

sustainable business travel

Environmentally concerned business-travel planners are often challenged by conflicting goals within their organizations, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) reported in “Corporate Social Responsibility: Going Beyond Green.”

The majority of professional travel planners who responded to the 2017 GBTA survey reported formal corporate sustainability programs are in place; however, only 16 percent said they currently offer incentives for business travelers to stay in hotels with sustainable practices.

The study’s questionnaire was sent to 1,167 travel managers; 90 planners (8 percent) responded. Sponsored by AIG Travel, the study acknowledged that companies are beginning to take a holistic approach to sustainable practices.

Kate Vasiloff, GBTA research director, explained there are three key factors to sustainability: social, environmental and financial. She referred to them as the “three P’s—people, planet, and profits.”

Travel management professionals are increasingly concerned about booking events at hotels that have implemented sustainable practices (i.e., not washing sheets and towels every night of a stay, automatic light shut off, low-flow shower systems). However, the survey unveiled disappointing results when it comes to their own companies and clients putting those policies into practice.

AIG Travel CEO Jeff Rutledge said, “Travel is more accessible today than ever before, and with this access comes a responsibility to positively impact the places we visit, whether for business or for leisure. This research shows there is a major opportunity for companies to incorporate additional sustainability practices into their travel programs.”

Currently, only one in six travel managers (16%) offer incentives for business travelers to book preferred hotels with proven sustainability programs, the survey found. A good beginning for environmentally friendly meeting planners is to adopt paperless practices.

4 Paperless Best Practices

–Send links to surveys instead of paper evaluations
–Use tablet stations for registration instead of paper forms
–Create event apps to display information instead of printing venue maps and schedules
–Display digital signage instead of printed posters

One of the key goals in the study is to reduce the event-hosting industry’s CO2 footprint by 10 percent. This can be accomplished by booking meetings at hotels located near popular offsite locations or near public transportation. This reduces the amount of carbon emissions from rental cars, taxis and buses that business travelers often rely upon to visit restaurants and other attractions.

Public perception of how companies treat the environment are expected to play a bigger role in future decisions about business travel, GBTA reported: “With the rise of the internet driving increased public awareness and consumer activism, gone are the days of a company’s public perception being formed by only the goods or services it provides.”

Forget offsites. Take your meeting offshore! If you’ve never considered holding a meeting aboard a cruise ship, now is the time to start. Hotel demand is growing, causing nightly rates to rise. Why not consider this out-of-the-box solution to your venue selection woes?

Last year, Smart Meetings covered the benefits of cruise meetings in a three-part series. We found that there are numerous reasons to consider a cruise meeting, such as unique meeting spaces, enticing excursions and all-inclusive pricing. Now you can add sustainability to that list.

The world’s largest cruise industry association, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), recently did an in-depth analysis of the industry’s environmental practices. The study found that CLIA-member lines are strong performers that limit their emissions to the air and have implemented excellent wastewater treatment policies. These cruise lines are also industry leaders in continually developing innovative policies and processes that benefit the environment.

The study, performed by Energy and Environmental Research Associates (EERA), found that CLIA members met and often exceeded legal requirements for environmental protection. These practices include designing and using innovative systems that reduce air emissions, taking advantage of alternative fuels, refraining from discharging untreated sewage, and developing and implementing advanced wastewater treatment systems.

“Safeguarding and preserving the world’s precious natural resources is not only the right thing to do, but it is essential to the cruise experience for generations to come,” said Cindy D’Aoust, president and CEO, CLIA.

north carolina repeals hb2

The controversial and costly bathroom ban is on its way out. Today, the North Carolina state Senate and House of Representatives both voted to pass House Bill 142, which repeals House Bill 2 (HB2), commonly known as the bathroom bill. Afterwards, Governor Roy Cooper signed the measure into law.

Since it was passed a year ago, HB2 has led to hundreds of millions in lost business. Events such as the 2017 NBA All-Star Game and major concerts have been canceled. The Associated Press recently completed a study that predicted losses of $3.76 billion over 12 years if the legislation remained in place.

North Carolina was facing mounting pressure to repeal the law. Last week, the NCAA gave the state a final warning to repeal the law or be excluded from the list of potential tournament sites for the 2018-2022 cycle. The state’s Congress worked through the night to draft the bill and has passed it just in time.

Compromise or controversy?

However, the new law is not without its flaws. Although Gov. Cooper calls the compromise “the best deal we could get,” LGBT groups say it doesn’t do enough.

The law repeals the bathroom ban, but does not allow local governments to pass their own anti-discrimination laws until December 2020. This measure is likely in response to one Charlotte city council’s attempt to add protections for transgender individuals to its nondiscrimination policies. The council’s actions in February 2016 led state lawmakers to pass HB2.

Some say that the law brings things back to the way they were before HB2 was passed, but activists have denounced it and called on the NCAA and other groups to continue to boycott North Carolina.

North Carolina “put basketball over civil rights,” says the ACLU in a Twitter post.

Some are questioning whether the new law passes NCAA standards for nondiscrimination. The organization has yet to respond.

GMID 2016 event in Austin, Texas

The second annual Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) is just around the corner. On Thursday, April 6, meetings industry leaders will come together to celebrate the industry’s big day. GMID was created by the Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMB) to showcase the impact that meetings have on local economies and communities.

Last year, GMID was celebrated on April 14, with more than 100 events held in more than 30 countries across five continents. The event was massive, as indicated by the 7,000 tweets posted with the #GMID16 hashtag. New York City’s iconic Empire State Building was even lit up in blue, the color of MMB, to mark the occasion. Smart Meetings was live on the scene in Las Vegas, which held one of the most prominent GMID events.

This year, GMID promises to be even bigger and better. From Asia to Africa to North America and Europe, local planners and CVBs are organizing networking events, roundtables and more for April 6.

On April 6, Smart Meetings will be reporting from the GMID celebration in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Meet AC and Caesars Entertainment have partnered to put on this event, which will feature a panel of industry luminaries including Jim Wood, president and CEO of Meet AC, and Michael Dominguez, chief sales officer at MGM Resorts International. They will discuss the importance of face-to-face meetings and Atlantic City’s plans for supporting group business. Education sessions on corporate social responsibility, cybersecurity and other topics will follow.

Other notable events include:

– Sky-high meetings in Las Vegas: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is bringing a twist to GMID. Guests will board the High Roller Observation Wheel and take part in back-to-back meetings. Each pod is staffed with meetings professionals who will provide groups with a hypothetical meeting situation that they must solve within 30 minutes, or one rotation of the High Roller.

– New York City to light up for GMID: On April 5, some of the city’s iconic landmarks will be lit with shades of blue in advance of GMID. The Empire State Building, Four Times Square, One Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan and One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan will all participate. The city’s largest billboard, in the center of Times Square, will also showcase NYC & Company’s Make it NYC meetings campaign and GMID logos.

On April 6, NYC & Company will host a talk on meetings security strategies and best practices. “NYC & Company recognizes the profound impact that face-to-face meetings have on New York City’s five boroughs every year,” said Fred Dixon, NYC & Company president and CEO. “With safety a new top priority for planners, we are looking forward to our GMID panel discussion on meeting and event security, reassuring planners and businesses that New York City remains the country’s safest large city to host a meeting or event.”

– Honoring women at the first GMID event of the year: Wellington, New Zealand, will host the world’s first GMID event of 2017. Event tech company ShowGizmo has partnered with IACC, Conventions & Incentives New Zealand and the local chapter of the Association for Women in Events to do double duty with a GMID celebration that recognizes the important contributions of women to the events industry.