POLITICS:

The Marriott hotel in Prague has declined hosting a conference of leaders and activists from China’s Uyghur diaspora, citing “political neutrality.” The move reflects a complex international struggle, and highlights China’s ability to impact corporations even beyond its borders.

ECONOMIC:

Business travel has been slower to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic than other travel types. Now, the Global Business Travel Association predicts a full recovery in 2024, a year sooner than previously anticipated.

SOCIAL:

The Service Profit Chain theory posits that customer satisfaction—and hotel profit—begins with staffing. Employee satisfaction is a key ingredient of customer loyalty, which stimulates profit and growth.

TECHNOLOGY:

Google is offering to host free booking links via their Google Hotel Ads program. Hoteliers can add a link to their direct booking agency in the Google metasearch results with no cost per click. Since Google is a huge source of online traffic, hotels should consider taking advantage of this program.

LEGAL:

A jury returned a $44 million negligence verdict against Hilton Management LLC as it found hotel personnel placed an unconscious guest in the wrong room, which led directly to her sexual assault.

ENVIRONMENT:

Marriott International is the latest group to join the HRS Green Stay Initiative. Metrics will be provided on all participants’ carbon, water and waste operations as gaining preferred supplier status increasingly requires hotel sustainability data.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

How to avoid these all-too-common mistakes in your email communications.