Articles tagged “aloft”

The travel industry has finally caught on – pets aren’t just accessories, they’re family. Demographic changes, from animal-loving Gen Zers to seniors seeking companionship, are reshaping how the sector thinks about hospitality.

Destinations in the Middle East understand that to realize their very ambitious tourism goals, they need to create enough infrastructure. Little wonder then that Saudi Arabia is now racing ahead of United Arab Emirates to build more hotel rooms.

Puerto Rico has seen its share of setbacks recently, but a fresh approach to experiential events paired with the launch of a tech-centered complex make the island an emerging leader for destination events.

Everyone suspected the efficiency and consistency of the Marriott "machine" would be a perfect match up for Starwood's creative and innovative lifestyle brands. While it appears to be working for Aloft and Element, the true measure of success will be what Marriott can do with a brand like Sheraton.

If the advent of artificial-intelligence-driven smart speakers like Google Home and Amazon Echo is any indication, the Internet of Things is that much closer to becoming a reality, even when we check into our hotel rooms.

Consider this the eventual next evolution of making your hotel room a real home away from home.

In fact, given all the praise that Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson has heaped on Element in recent weeks, it wouldn’t surprise us if Element’s growth gets even bigger when Marriott takes over. Element hotel owners and developers are probably thanking their lucky stars, too, knowing this brand won’t be going away anytime soon.

The hotel industry is looking for ways to grow and meet consumer demands. One route Starwood is taking is increasing the number of its select-service properties in New York state by 80 percent.

Sheraton needs more than a new marketing campaign. Hopefully substantive changes will be part of the plan.

If things go Starwood's way, then all of that expense in introducing keyless entry at Aloft and W properties will be recouped in higher occupancies and rates.