All articles by Amit Thadani
Amit Thadani
Adaptive events planning
Events planning is central to many business calendars, bringing together leading luminaries, industry experts and those seeking professionals development. However, the pandemic has meant that events planning has had to adapt like other industries. Jane Pendlebury attended HOSPA’s May event to learn about the challenges and changes event planners now face.
How is hospitality utilising NFTs?
The hospitality industry has not been immune to the global increase in interest in non-fungible tokens (NFTs). But while everyone seems to be talking about NFTs, few understand the buzz behind the buzzword. Hotel Management International presents two blog posts from HFTP explaining how the industry has been utilising this novel technological concept.
Customer demand driving sustainability
Most global travellers think sustainability is vital for travel, making it an essential component of hotels’ strategies if they want to attract the eco-friendly traveller. Abi Millar speaks to Kevin Brooke, general manager at Heckfield Place, and Brune Poirson, chief sustainability officer at Accor, about what their hotels are doing to meet environmental demands.
Step into the spotlight
When it comes to hotels, asset managers hold the key to ensuring the best possible future. Jonathan Humphries, head of international hotel development and asset management specialisation at Glion Institute of Higher Education, discusses the importance of hospitality asset managers and their role in the hospitality industry.
Hospitality: Supercharging marketing recovery
Since the start of the pandemic, consumer behaviour towards the hotel sector has changed. With new technological opportunities such as AI and facial recognition, Scott Dahl, programme director at Les Roches Global Hospitality Education, discusses its potential for marketing recovery.
Passing the baton
For around 90 years, Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts have embodied premium European hospitality. In the past 40 years, Deutsche Hospitality has expanded from the upscale segment to encompass eight brands spanning every market segment. Jim Banks speaks to outgoing chief development officer Claus-Dieter Jandel about that expansion process, and his replacement Marie-Noële Schwartzmann about the future of the group.
Seizing opportunities
In early May 2022, Hotel Management International flew to Berlin to hear from global industry leaders about the latest trends that will shape the hospitality sector as it recovers from a tough two years. We look at the key themes to emerge from the discussions as the industry plots its course for the future.
Developing a global footprint
Few can match Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) in terms of their ambitious development plans, something undoubtably down to Elie Younes, the company’s global chief development officer. Yet, as Younes explains to Andrea Valentino, RHG’s growth is down to more than optimism and tenacity, but also teamwork, long-lasting partnerships and careful planning.
Experience and leadership in hospitality
With more than two decades in hospitality at IHG, Karin Sheppard has built a reputation for herself and is currently managing director, Europe at IHG Hotels & Resorts. As an industry leader responsible for driving performance, sustainable growth and the reputation of the hotel group’s European business, Sheppard speaks to Phoebe Galbraith about her experience in hospitality and her role as a leader, what it means to provide true hospitality and the group’s aims for the future.
Growing pains for India’s hotels
From the days of the British Raj, Indian hospitality has enjoyed a reputation for opulence. But, as the country’s economy changes, and more adventurous tourists arrive from overseas, Indian hoteliers are becoming more interested in mid-market offerings. Andrea Valentino talks to Sudeep Jain at IHG; Suma Venkatesh from IHCL; and Professor Dipra Jha of Washington State University to learn about why this sector has traditionally struggled in India.