Skift Take

This week IHG CEO Keith Barr lays out a plastics plan and Vacasa nearly doubles its inventory by acquiring Wyndham Vacation Rentals. Plus The St. Regis keeps itself looking spiffy, thanks to the singular talent of an upholstery specialist.

Hotel News Weekly Roundup

Throughout the week we post dozens of original stories, connecting the dots across the travel industry, and every weekend we sum it all up. This weekend roundup examines hotels.

For all of our weekend roundups, go here.

IHG CEO: Guests Are Pressuring Hotels to Reduce Plastics, Not Governments: For IHG, governments are behind the curve in helping to reduce plastic waste. The real influence comes from its guests, whose awareness and expectations have increased exponentially in the last couple of years.

Marriott’s Alibaba Joint Venture in China Is Part of Its Direct-Booking Strategy: Marriott could do a lot worse than tying its fortunes in China to the e-commerce juggernaut Alibaba. Rest assured that this won’t be the last big partnership for Marriott in the country. These are, after all, early days.

Hilton Seeks More Partnerships to Entice Low-Tier Loyalty Members: It’s easy for hotel chains to spend time and resources on their highest loyalty spenders. But there is plenty of money to be had at the other end of the tier as well.

Vacasa to Acquire Wyndham Vacation Rentals for $162 Million: Vacasa will roughly double the inventory its team has to manage. That’s a lot to chew on. The risk is falling prey to hubris.

U.S.-China Trade War Hurts Accor But It Won’t Deter Asia Expansion: The hotel group remains confident the international conflict will pass, as it commits resources to expanding in Asia.

How Bad Will It Get When Overtourism Meets Climate Change? The effects of climate change and overtourism on global destinations will converge over the course of the coming decades. Leaders need to start planning now for a world defined by overcrowding and limited resources.

The Highest Paid Travel CEOs in Europe in 2018: Amadeus’ Luis Maroto came out on top in 2018. His executive compensation is appropriate, given that the company is the most valuable European travel firm.

Luxury Accommodations Head Outdoors in Creative Ways: We’ve been reporting on alternative luxury accommodations, like glamping, yurts, and tiny homes, for the past couple of years. But now the hotel-less caravansary is going one step beyond, offering a variety of alternative accommodations all in one location.

Trump Hotels’ Indonesian Partner Invests in Budget Hotel Startup RedDoorz: RedDoorz’ latest funding round includes two interesting new investors, Qiming and MNC Group. It says a lot about the potential of budget accommodation in Southeast Asia, a region that is also being pursued by Oyo.

Travel Advisors Act to Protect Clients From Resort Fee Surprises: Not only are resort fees an annoyance for hotel guests, but they put the onus on travel advisors to make sure clients are aware of what their stay will actually cost. Some advisors are fighting back by steering clients toward properties that don’t charge the fees.

Material Matters at The St. Regis: Covering the Job of Hotel Upholsterer: Whether it’s hanging on the walls or blanketing chairs and sofas, fabric plays a starring role at The St. Regis New York. That’s why the hotel employs a full-time upholsterer, who is constantly canvassing the premises to keep material in tip-top shape.

Hilton Sees Loyalty Surge From Higher Traveler Engagement: New tools geared for driving engagement at Hilton have created strong growth it its loyalty program. But does Marriott also get part of the credit?

The Next Phase of High-End Alternative Accommodations: The concept of alternative accommodations encompasses so much. Even in the realm of high-end travelers, there are often multiple examples to choose from in the same place.

Travel Advisors Book Their Clients Away From Resort Fees: The proliferation of resort fees even at non-resort hotels is creating an extra layer of responsibility for travel advisors. Along with ensuring that their clients are aware of the charges, many are also recommending alternative hotels.

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Tags: hospitality, Travel Trends, trends roundups

Photo credit: The pristine beach at Six Senses Zil Pasyon, located on Félicité, a private island. Of IHG's brands, CEO Keith Barr identified Six Senses as ahead of the curve in using ceramic refillables and pressuring its supply chain to use less plastic. Six Senses

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