All articles by Ky Nikitha
Ky Nikitha
Just as well
The global wellness industry is now valued at over $4 trillion, with an increasing amount of focus and money being invested into hotels’ spa offerings. But, in an ever-more competitive marketplace, what are hotels and brands doing to differentiate their wellness offerings from their rivals and what trends are emerging on the horizon? Patrick Kingsland speaks to Rosewood’s Niamh O’Connell and Anna Bjurstam of Six Senses to find out.
Stars in our eyes
Ezio A Indiani, president of the European Hotel Managers Association (EHMA), reflects on a busy first few months in the role and highlights the exciting plans that have been set in motion.
Woman on the rise
Maram Kokandi is the first woman in Saudi Arabia to rise to the role of general manager, having been awarded the position at the Park Inn by Radisson Madinah Road, Jeddah.
Room at the top
In the space of just six years, OYO has established itself as one of the biggest
players on the hospitality scene and a significant threat to more established
operators within the economy segment. Ralph Hollister of GlobalData looks
at how this Indian success story has travelled so far so quickly and analyses
the factors that will ultimately define its next stage of growth.
Arabic assessment
While the Middle East posted mixed results for Q1, Africa posted growth in occupancy, average daily rate and revenue per available room. Nevertheless, the former continues to attract significant interest from the world’s largest operators and brands, as demonstrated by STR’s release of the top 50 companies and brands in the region, unveiled at this year’s Arabian Hotel Investment Conference as part of the STR 500. Our partners at the industry leader in hospitality analytics look at some of the stories behind the numbers.
Amicale departure
After six years at the helm, Hans Koch stepped down as president of the European Hotel Managers Association (EHMA) at the organisation’s 46th AGM, held in Paris in February. He looks back over his tenure and highlights some of the achievements of which he is most proud.
A seat at the table
Traditional operators have long avoided any association with hostels but, running out of niches and labels for different consumer demographics, some are beginning to explore whether the shared accommodation concept can help them capture millennials and Gen Z. Tim Gunn asks Generator’s Alastair Thomann, Etienne Matichard of Jo&Joe and Hostelworld’s Paul Halpenny about the potential of communal living.
The full works
Small lifestyle concepts and big global players are making moves to try and harness the potential of co-working within their portfolios. Elly Earls meets Accor Innovation Lab’s Frédéric Fontaine and Zoku’s David Kijlstra to discover the extent to which their efforts can make hard work pay.
Marks of distinction
Perhaps the biggest issue facing the European hospitality industry is a war for talent, between direct competitors and against other industries often seen as offering more attractive career prospects. Setting a clear career path, and establishing ongoing learning and training programmes are prerequisites for any operator. Abi Millar discusses the challenges with Hyatt’s Yves Givel, Rob Zajko from Hilton and citizenM’s Michael Levie.
Collaborate and captivate
A multimillion-dollar rebrand will see Millennium Hotel London Mayfair converted into The Biltmore this spring, the first European member of Hilton’s new luxury brand, LXR Hotels & Resorts. Greg Noone talks to Martin Goddard and Jo Littlefair, the husband and wife team behind the renovation, about the genesis of their design studio, the meaning behind modern luxury and how they have learned to collaborate with some of the biggest high-end operators on the hospitality scene.