Posts

Dave

Unlocking luxury: The MICHELIN Key redefines hotel excellence

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The renowned MICHELIN Guide, celebrated worldwide for its recognition of top-tier dining establishments, is set to revolutionise the hotel industry with its latest creation – The MICHELIN Key.

The distinctive accolade is designed to shine a spotlight on hotels that offer truly exceptional experiences to travellers.

Starting in 2024, these distinguished hotels and accommodations will have the privilege of bearing The MICHELIN Key, joining a select group of establishments that stand out for their excellence.

Much like its esteemed restaurant ratings, The MICHELIN Guide aims to provide independent recommendations for hotels that are genuine destinations in their own right.

Unlocking extraordinary: The MICHELIN Key is a prestigious distinction awarded to exceptional hotels that offer truly outstanding and unique travel experiences

After four years of meticulous evaluation and research, The MICHELIN Guide now unveils a selection of more than 5,000 remarkable hotels across 120 countries.

The MICHELIN Guide emerged as a trusted beacon guiding travellers towards extraordinary experiences. In response to the prevailing standardisation in hotel design, interiors and amenities, The MICHELIN Guide strives to connect with travellers on an emotional level, directing them towards establishments that excel in architectural design and professional expertise, and possess a distinct and identifiable personality.

The new MICHELIN Guide selection encompasses more than 5,000 hotels worldwide, offering diverse options to suit various budgets and styles. The selection process is guided by five essential criteria:

  1. A Destination in Itself: These hotels contribute significantly to the local experience, enriching the traveller’s journey.
  2. Excellence in Interior Design and Architecture: These establishments set themselves apart with exceptional design and architectural features.
  3. Individuality and Authenticity: Each hotel reflects a unique personality and authenticity.
  4. Quality, Comfort, and Service: A commitment to providing consistent quality, comfort, and impeccable service.
  5. Value for Experience: These hotels offer a seamless balance between the experience they deliver and the price they command.

Importantly, this hotel selection stands independent of existing labels and quotas, catering to both seasoned MICHELIN Guide enthusiasts and those in search of well-informed advice.

The new approach to hotel recommendations by The MICHELIN Guide serves three key objectives:

  1. Enhancing Gourmet Experiences: Travellers can now complement their culinary adventures with memorable hotel stays.
  2. Character-Focused Accommodations: Guests are guided towards accommodations that offer more than just a place to sleep – they offer character and unique experiences.
  3. Comprehensive Independent Platform: The MICHELIN Guide’s website and mobile application provide an intuitive platform for inspiration, selection, reservation, payment, and sharing of travel experiences. The platform is ad-free, ensuring a seamless user experience, and offers round-the-clock customer service along with expert travel guidance.
  4. The MICHELIN Key – A New MICHELIN Guide Distinction

Within this groundbreaking selection, The MICHELIN Guide seeks to spotlight establishments that elevate hospitality to an art form, curating unforgettable experiences for travelers.

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The MICHELIN Guides, explains,

The MICHELIN Key is a clear, reliable indicator for travelers. Just as the MICHELIN Star distinguishes top restaurants, the MICHELIN Key recognizes the world’s most exceptional hotels. It is also an acknowledgment of the dedication and passion of hospitality professionals.

Annually, The MICHELIN Key will honour exceptional establishments led by teams with unique expertise. The accolade will be bestowed following one or more anonymous stays by The MICHELIN Guide’s selection teams.

Currently in the field, The MICHELIN Guide teams are on the lookout for the finest hotel experiences, with the inaugural MICHELIN Key selection set to be unveiled in the first half of 2024.

2,265,792 hotel rooms in pipeline
Paul

Global hotel pipeline hits record highs

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The hotel industry continues to boom, with a record high of more than 2.2m hotel rooms in the pipeline – a 6% increase over the last year. 

Lodging Econometrics, the global leader for hotel real estate intelligence has released its year-end Global Construction Pipeline Trend Report, which compiles the construction pipeline counts for countries and markets around the world. At the close of 2018, LE analysts state that the total global construction pipeline hit record highs with 13,573 projects/2,265,792 rooms, a 7% increase in projects year-over-year.

The global pipeline has ascended for eight consecutive years after reaching its cyclical low in 2010. All regional pipelines, with the exception of South America, continued their upward trend year-over-year. Four of the seven global regions reached all-time highs in 2018: Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific.

There are a record high 6,352 projects/1,172,591 rooms currently under construction worldwide. Projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months are at 3,860 projects/572,483 rooms. Projects in the early planning stage stand at 3,361rooms/520,718 projects, also at an all-time high.  The United Kingdom the pipeline is 266 projects/38,590 rooms.

Around the world, the cities with the largest pipeline counts are New York City with 171 projects/29,457 rooms, Dubai with 168 projects/49,943 rooms, and Dallas with 163 projects/19,476 rooms. Los Angeles follows with 147 projects/23,404 rooms, and Guangzhou, China with 132 projects/28,694 rooms.

The leading franchise companies in the global construction pipeline by project count are

  • Marriott International with 2,544 projects/420,405 rooms
  • Hilton Worldwide with 2,252 projects/333,209 rooms
  • InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) with 1,716 projects/249,379
    rooms
  • AccorHotels with 966 projects/177,052 rooms.

These four companies account for 55% of all projects in the global pipeline.

Contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager next time you need to book a hotel room, anywhere in the world.

Paul

Free Copy Of Your Quarterly Hotel Market Report!

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I am very happy to announce the publication of the HOTELS QUARTERLY MARKET REPORT.

The publication, compiled in association with our partners, Advantage Travel Partnership, provides an insight into the hotel market in 2018 and contains fascinating industry insight, particularly for anyone who needs to book business travel in the year ahead.

With detailed research and analysis, the report contains important information for any business booking hotel rooms for business travel in the next year. The data includes details on the average daily rate paid in hotels worldwide; research into how many hotels are being built; how many additional hotel rooms are coming on-stream; the increase in hotel nights booked worldwide – and the extent to which the UK market leads the world; plus many other data points that are critical in determining how and where next year’s travel spend can best be utilised.

The report analyses which hotel industry trends should be watched in the year ahead. Including the effect Brexit will have on Average Day Rates in hotels in London and elsewhere in the country; the best way to book stays in order to ensure securing hotel group loyalty points; and advice on how to make sure bookings are made at the best rates.

The top 40 locations in the UK are analysed to show which places are the most popular and where the highest and lowest Average Daily Rates can be found. And there is information on the top 40 places outside the UK too.

This report is a vital set of research to help ensure you can optimise your hotel spend in the coming year. If you would like a copy of the report, please drop me an email – pb@GTM.uk.com – and I will send you a PDF version, free of charge.