All articles by Blatha
Blatha
Embracing environmental responsibility: no plastic
Rising awareness of single-use plastics’ environmental impacts has led hotel operators to introduce strategies to outlaw their use across their properties. Grace Allen asks Daniella Foster, Hilton’s senior director of corporate responsibility, and Marié Fukudome, Hyatt’s director of environmental affairs and corporate responsibility, about their sustainability strategy and the reduction of plastics.
Staying competitive: the luxury hotel business
EHMA president Hans Koch looks at the challenges of remaining relevant and competitive in a changing hotel landscape.
A different take: Firmdale Hotels
As the founders and leaders of Firmdale Hotels, Kit and Tim Kemp are among the industry’s most influential boutique hoteliers. Phin Foster hears them speak about the importance of maintaining their own spheres of control, taking a personalised approach to hotel development and why it sometimes pays to do things a little differently.
Big issues: London’s Hotel Investment Conference Europe
Delegates recently convened in London for the latest Hotel Investment Conference Europe. Subjects for discussion included new growth opportunities, shifting investor profiles and the need for developers and hoteliers to think more creatively. Inevitably, however, one topic loomed above all others. Hotel Management International reports.
The age of consent: European GDPR
The European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance deadline has passed, requiring every hotel in the world to have guidelines in place that protect EU residents’ personally identifiable information against security breaches. Six months down the line, however, reports are coming through of some operators managing the scale of these demands better than others. Robert Holland, chief technology adviser to the British Hospitality Association, and GDPR expert Nick Crawford discuss the challenges with Patrick Kingsland.
Reality check: AR technology
Augmented reality platforms have emerged as new marketing and operational tools in recent years, allowing hotels to preview and enhance their pre-existing selling points, and possibly offer whole new ones. But to what extent do these tools lean more towards gimmickry than utility, and what might the next generation of AR and VR solutions provide in terms of added value? Tim Gunn assesses how hotels can best augment their approaches.
Ports of call: hospitality growth in Portugal
Lisbon and Porto have experienced unprecedented hotel growth over the past decade. But how much longer can it last? Greg Noone talks to Gustavo Castro, the head of Colliers International’s office in Porto, and Jorge Rebelo de Almeida, the managing director of Portuguese hotel group Vila Galé, to find out more.
Lighting the way
Hilton Worldwide is setting new standards for energy saving across its global portfolio. Hotel Management International talks to Max Verstraete, vice-president for corporate responsibility, about how the hotel operator’s LightStay initiative is helping to point the way towards sustainability in hospitality.
Safe as hotels
While depressing, it’s an unavoidable fact that hotels can sometimes be uncomfortable environments for solo female guests. How should operators ensure they recognise women’s security concerns and discreetly create safer spaces for those travelling alone? Abi Millar talks to Maiden Voyage founder Carolyn Pearson and Dukes Hotel Group’s managing director Debrah Dhugga.
Close the gap
Despite comprising the majority of the overall workforce, women are woefully under-represented in senior management positions in the hospitality industry. EHMA vice-president Verena Radlgruber-Forstinger explains how forward-thinking hotel operators are seeking to break down the barriers to female success.