HPG Advisory, Author at HPG Advisory Services I Hospitality Leadership Advisory

Briefing: lifting the lid on the industry’s biggest event

Posted on January 9, 2014February 21, 2019 by HPG Advisory

As you know, we have been sending you regular briefings featuring key people from right across the hospitality industry. These briefings are produced in conjunction with our good friends, yourBusinessChannel who launched The Hospitality Channel 3 years ago. A channel which we have been a key partner for since the outset. We have had some great feedback to these interviews.

One of the great opportunities for the yourBusinessChannel team to capture a lot of this content is the annual International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) held in Berlin each year. This week’s briefing is a video that they put together from comments people made about last year’s conference as they thought it would be interesting for those who have never been IHIF conference to understand why people attend.

These comments are not scripted and yourBusinessChannel’s interviewees were not expecting to be asked this question so it’s a great insight into why people attend the conference and why there is so much buzz and business done over the 3 day event.

Briefing: an unchartered continent for most

Posted on December 12, 2013February 21, 2019 by HPG Advisory

Africa is a continent which many view with much trepidation and caution due to its relative unknown way of doing business. That is at least the general assumption from those who have visited…

The continent is one of incredible opportunity for all industries not only for the domestic population but also for big hotel brands moving into markets and investing in the potential. Understanding this potential is very important, what hotel product will work well?

Who should you choose as local partners? What are the pitfalls from those that have been there. Find out in this briefing:

Ewan Cameron, CEO of Lonrho Hotels on the opportunity he sees on the continent
Trevor Ward, Managing Director of W Hospitality on the hotel product which will work well
Nawfal Bendefa, Managing Director of ACTIF INVEST on the investment building blocks needed
And Valentine Ozigbo, MD & CEO of Transnational Hotels & Tourism Services Ltd on the market which is about to explode

If you’ve been sent to this page but you’re not yet on the circulation list to receive these regular briefings and you would like to sign up, you can do so here. It’s free.

Video clips produced by ybc.hpgcms.wpengine.com for the Hospitality Channel, including interviews from industry conferences such as the IHIF conference as well as specific Hospitality Channel shoots.

Briefing: essential elements of successful hotel deal-making

Posted on December 4, 2013February 21, 2019 by HPG Advisory

Doing deals has become a much more lengthy process post-recession, but there are certain components of doing good deals that stand the test of time and are paramount in any successful negotiation. Understanding what product will work well in particular locations, creating and recruiting the best management team possible to drive the new venture forward, and ascertaining the right funding mix are all imperative variables to get right.

Experts in this briefing discuss the market for deals and what components of a deal are integral, including comment from:

Laurence Geller CBE, Founder, Former Chairman & CEO of Strategic Hotels & Resorts on what hotel product he thinks is going to work well

Richard Candey, Senior Director – Head of Hospitality of DTZ on the fundamental components of a good deal

Arthur de Haast, Chairman – Hotels & Hospitality Group of Jones Lang LaSalle on increased liquidity seen in the marketplace

Renzo Iorio, CEO – Italy of Accor SA on what good deals should start with…

If you’ve been sent to this page but you’re not yet on the circulation list to receive these regular briefings and you would like to sign up, you can do so here. It’s free.

Briefing: mobile – the big sell

Posted on November 21, 2013February 21, 2019 by HPG Advisory

Mobile technology is expanding at such a rate that it is really any wonder how people keep up with it. iPhone 5GS, Samsung Galaxy S4, Windows 8, Android, and BlackBerry are just a handful of terms that are in our modern-day vernacular without many of us really understanding what it means for us and for business.

Mobile smartphones are the most powerful selling technique which is set to dominate long into the future and we need to be utilising this medium across our business. Whether that’s checking emails, social networks, looking for reviews, playing games, watching films, purchasing hotel rooms and perhaps after all that making a phone call. It should certainly be embraced and our experts this week discuss this with comment from:

Cyril Ranque, SVP of Global Market Management for Expedia on the power that these devices bring to the consumer.

Douglas Rice, Executive VP & CEO of Hotel Technology Next Generation on expectations being raised with mobile

Leo Brand, CEO of Swisscom Hospitality Services on the need for hospitality to up its game

Peter O’Connor, Professor & Academic Director of ESSEC Business School on seizing the immense power of mobile in hotels

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Briefing: developing the owner / operator relationship

Posted on November 14, 2013February 21, 2019 by HPG Advisory

The owner and operator relationship is a constantly developing alliance. In this new fast-paced, information abundant world many believe that industry’s reaction to changes in this relationship has been too slow. It is essential that all parties understand the best way to manage this integral relationship.

This week, our experts discuss how they see the relationship blossoming and the pitfalls to avoid:

Christoph Härle, CEO – Continental Europe, Hotels & Hospitality Group of Jones Lang LaSalle on the professionalism of the relationship

Laurence Geller CBE, Former Chairman & CEO of Strategic Hotels & Resorts on tensions arising

Rudi Jagersbacher, President – Middle East & Africa of Hilton Worldwide, on the sophistication of owners

Nick van Marken, Partner & Global Head – Travel, Hospitality & Leisure of Deloitte LLP on the skewed perception he sees

If you’ve been sent to this page but you’re not yet on the circulation list to receive these regular briefings and you would like to sign up, you can do so here. It’s free.

Briefing: extraordinary continued growth for Middle East

Posted on November 7, 2013February 21, 2019 by HPG Advisory

There is no doubting that the growth story for the hospitality sector in the Middle East region is compelling. The emergence of the region as a hub of investment means it is continuing to be an exciting prospect specifically for hotel development.

Capitalising on this non-stop growth is something discussed in this week’s briefing. Where are the opportunities? Are there markets that have too much hotel product? What hotel product will work in the next 3-5years? Answering these questions includes:

Wolfgang Neumann, President & CEO of The Rezidor Hotel Group on the phenomenal growth he sees.

Neil George, VP – Acquisitions & Development, Africa & Middle East for Starwood Hotels & Resorts on the continued opportunity for luxury hotel brands

Amine Moukarzel, President of Golden Tulip Hotels on the emerging markets he sees for the region.

Darroch Crawford, Managing Director of Premier Inn Hotels LLC on understanding the opportunity for his brand

If you’ve been sent to this page but you’re not yet on the circulation list to receive these regular briefings and you would like to sign up, you can do so here. It’s free.

Briefing: Global Majors homogenising their hotel product

Posted on October 24, 2013February 21, 2019 by HPG Advisory

Innovation and design can be a real struggle for the ‘Global Majors’ as current products on the market can look outdated, uninspiring and uninviting to guests very, very quickly. This is especially the case in large chains where you need to retain the ‘look and feel’ of a hotel offering globally as well as retaining a good cost base.

When deliberating this conundrum there are two options, update existing brands, or create an entirely new one with a slight twist and a different offering to a market you haven’t served quite as well in the past. Guarding against a lacklustre hotel product is a continually changing beast and something discussed in this week’s briefing, including comment from:

Nick van Marken, Global Hospitality Leader for Deloitte LLP on the new brands being introduced

Peter Verhoeven, COO for ibis Brands Europe on ensuring against a homogenised product

Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of Steigenberger Hotel Group on innovation for the competitive edge

And Josh Wyatt, Director for Hospitality & Leisure for Patron Capital Advisers on the challenges with innovation and design for hospitality

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Briefing: hospitality a key driver of economic growth

Posted on October 17, 2013February 21, 2019 by HPG Advisory

The value that hospitality creates for all economies across the world is sometimes overlooked by the global governments. This is exacerbated by the hotel industry being historically very poor at coming together in one-voice and explaining eloquently how significant a thriving hotel market can be to an area, region or even country.

In this briefing we hear from key experts about the consequences of a thriving hospitality industry and what the sector could be doing more of to push governments to recognise it as a stable hedge against economic instability. Including comment from:

Paul Slattery, Director of Otus & Co. Advisory on the next 10 years being crucial for global governments

Gaël Le Lay, Head of Hotel Investment for AXA Real Estate on the hotels sector growth being correlated with economic development

Robert Gaymer-Jones, CEO of Sofitel Luxury Hotels on pushing governments further to encourage tourism

Marc Socker, Senior Director – Hotel Fund Management of Invesco Real Estate on what he wishes David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, would do for the industry

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Briefing: the age of data

Posted on October 10, 2013February 21, 2019 by HPG Advisory

Hospitality is one of the most data rich industries on the planet. There is no doubt that most industries are truly envious of the depth of knowledge and understanding the industry has about every single person that walks through the doors. Data that can be so specific to an individual’s preferences when staying in a hotel.

How can the industry use this vital information in order to make a customer’s experience truly engaging?

The opportunity that the digital world now affords hospitality is prevalent on so many different levels and experts this week discuss where to exploit this data abundant industry. Including comment from::

Sean Worker, CEO of Bridgestreet on making data work for your business

Andrew Sangster, Editorial Director of hotelanalyst on utilising data within your organisation

Leo Brand, CEO of SwissCom Hospitality Services on making data personal to a customer

And Nigel Huddleston, Industry Head of Travel for Google on the early stage developments of permission based data

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Briefing: keeping your team and colleagues motivated

Posted on October 3, 2013February 21, 2019 by HPG Advisory

In a global hospitality organisation it can be very difficult to keep in touch with colleagues in multiple locations, in multiple languages, across multiple timezones. Motivating these cherished members of your team is a task which shouldn’t be taken lightly considering these people are conveying the brand standards to your guests 24/7.

But how do you maintain the high-standards you expect? And, perhaps more importantly, how do you retain those members of staff who are the true champions of your hospitality organisation. This is discussed in this week’s briefing, with comments from:

Pierre O. Botteron, VP – Human Resources for Swissotel Hotels & Resorts on the need to deliver in-house consistency

Gerald Lawless, President & Group Chief Executive Officer for Jumeirah Group on keeping his colleagues motivated

David Thomson, COO for JA Resorts & Hotels, on retaining your cherished staff

Robert Gaymer-Jones, CEO of Sofitel Luxury Hotels on retaining the brand philosophy globally

If you’ve been sent to this page but you’re not yet on the circulation list to receive these regular briefings and you would like to sign up, you can do so here. It’s free.