We started Monday’s 5 things to know off with good news, so why not Tuesday, too? In the latest issue of the UNWTO Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals erased the 4.2% drop suffered last year because of the economic crisis.
Worldwide tourism arrivals between January and August this year were 642 million, which is 40 million more than during the same period in 2009.
The number of international tourist arrivals is expected to increase by 5% to 6% during the full year. Growth during 2011 is projected at 4%.
InterContinental Hotels Group reported third-quarter revenue of US$421 million, up 5% year over year or 6% adjusted for constant currency. Operating profit grew by 14% during the quarter when excluding the impact of performance-based, long-term incentive costs.
“The recovery, which started in Asia/Pacific, is now well established globally,” CFO and head of commercial development Richard Solomons told United Kingdom analysts during an early morning conference call today.
The newly appointed president and COO of Dominion Grand Hotel Group, the hospitality arm of Dominion Grand Development Group, took time Monday to speak with HotelNewsNow.com features editor Patrick Mayock.
Michael L. Jackson said the company is on the hunt in Western Canada for properties with the following characteristics:
• full-service with liquor licenses;
• tertiary markets;
• a value of CAD$5 million (US$5 million) or less;
• no particular brand families (bias is probably toward independent); and
• “Something that’s been owner-operated for a period of time and the owner wants to exit the business, and where there’s built-in opportunities for improvement in operation techniques and by some capital investment in the asset,” Jackson said.
There is likely to be a business travel boost next year, according to a Deloitte survey released today.
By the end of 2011, 80% of business travelers reported they will take the same number or more business trips than they did this year. Just 29% of respondents said they would take fewer trips.
“The travel industry was not immune to the economic slowdown, but the confidence demonstrated by business travelers who responded to our survey suggests a brighter outlook for the industry as a whole,” said Adam Weissenberg, vice chairman and tourism, hospitality and leisure sector leader at Deloitte.
And in more survey news, 91% of United States adults would not return to a business where their personal information was stolen, according to a Harris Interactive poll conducted on behalf of Cintas Corporation.
Perhaps most importantly for hotels, the poll of slightly more than 1,000 people found that 77% would not return to a hotel where their information was taken.
“Data breaches not only impact consumers, but can potentially cost businesses millions of dollars and take a significant toll on public trust,” said Gail Cunningham, spokesperson for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. “This research confirms that poor document management practices can significantly damage a business’ reputation and discourage once loyal customers from ever returning. It could also discourage potential customers from ever entering.”
Compiled by Shawn A. Turner.
