Each Friday, the HotelNewsNow.com editorial staff picks the most compelling (or downright gutsy) quote and reader comment from the previous week.
Comment of the week
During the annual ISHC conference, HotelNewsNow.com editorial director Jeff Higley participated on a panel that discussed the precarious state of inbound international travel to the United States. Among the challenges: inefficient systems, spotty communication and a general lack of leadership.
Attendee (and ISHC member) Eric B. Hansen reaffirmed the general sense of frustration felt by the hotel industry when he commented:
“Jeff, Your article captured the sentiments of everyone in the room last week. The frustration and lack of leadership under the combined efforts of the Department of Commmerce (sic) and Homeland Security is evident. Mr. Friedman and Ms. Beteta are doing yeoman's work in bringing the issues to the forefront. Lets (sic) hope the Travel Promotion Act can get some traction in 2011.”
Quote of the week
Dan Fay, president of Commonwealth Hotels, said during a recent interview that brands have been accommodating to owners’ needs during the downturn. But as the industry ramps up recovery, they’re going to start pushing their standards and new initiatives. Fay just hopes everyone—brands and owners—is smarter in implementation.
“I hope that, both as owners and as brands, we can get smarter. It appears that every time there’s an upturn that brands start to play one-upmanship and we create this capital orgy, which isn’t necessarily good. Our hotels have to be modern, they have to be well maintained, the technology changes, bedding has changed, and I believe we have to keep up with those things if we’re going to have a good business. But some of the brands come up with some things that I don’t believe have a return on investment and some of those things probably shouldn’t be done.”
