Business management & development
In early May 2022, Hotel Management International fl ew to Berlin to hear from global industry leaders about the latest trends that will shape the hospitality sector as it recovers from a tough two years. We look at the key themes to emerge from the discussions as the industry plots its course for the future.
Seizing opportunities D
uring the past two years, the hospitality sector has been more focused on survival than seeking new opportunities. But as the threat of the pandemic recedes and the world returns to normal, the sector is getting back to what it does best – innovation. Pent-up demand among travellers, along with a growing appetite for adventure and new experiences, is presenting hotel operators with the chance to reimagine the experiences they offer and to consider how the priorities of today’s guests have evolved. At the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin in May, industry leaders gathered with more than 2,400 delegates to look at how the sector can adapt, embrace new opportunities, innovate, improve profitability and take meaningful action on key issues such as sustainability and staffing. Informed by the abrupt shock of the Covid-19 pandemic, the industry is ready to move forward with fresh perspectives and a renewed sense of dynamism.
A greener future
The event began with an address by Questex CEO Paul Miller and Alexi Khajavi, president of travel and hospitality. Both remarked on the impact of the pandemic, noting that it had given the industry the time and space to take a step back, and examine new business models and new guest experiences while looking deeply into what today’s travellers want from a
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hotel. Day one focused on the core themes of people, planet and profit. A host of dynamic sessions for forward-thinking investors, owners and developers highlighted the importance of sustainability in any future business model. Not only is the environment becoming more important from a moral perspective, but it is also a key factor in the minds of many guests. Several sessions focused on the fact that environmental, social and governance (ESG) priorities are now at the heart of every decision made across the industry, whether from the perspective of operators or investors. For instance, Miguel Casas of Stoneweg Hospitality and Adrian Flueck of Invesco Real Estate, noted that ESG was already integrated into their companies’ investment strategies. Similarly, Gilles Clavié, CEO of AccorInvest, described ESG as the ‘growth engine’ for hotel owners and operators. This echoed the words of Ufi Ibrahim, CEO at the Energy & Environment Alliance, who noted that she engaged investors in her sustainable mission before anyone else to “create a pyramid effect”. She further emphasised that now is the time for the industry to take meaningful action on sustainability. “The industry has been damaged by greenwashing, so don’t promote something unless it is genuinely making a difference,” she said. Authenticity is key, given there is growing interest in sustainable travel among guests, as Finnbar Cornwall of
Hotel Management International /
www.hmi-online.com
Simon Callaghan Photography
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