Week 27 - Eco Airports, Eco Planes?
Flight traffic on the rise, Lufthansa buys ITA, Hawaii eco bill & more!
TLDR: Too Long Didnโt Read
In the realm of hospitality news, Hawaii has initiated a regenerative tourism bill aimed at preserving its natural beauty ๐บ๐๏ธ, while Radisson undertakes a digital transformation to enhance guest experiences with personalized loyalty programs and digital tools ๐๏ธ๐ป. Meanwhile, a new report forecasts substantial economic growth of $260 billion in Latin America's travel sector over the next decade ๐๐ผ, and global airline traffic sees a significant uptick with international flights leading the surge โ๏ธ๐. In environmental news, Toulon-Hyeres Airport achieves a remarkable 94% reduction in CO2 emissions, earning recognition for its eco-friendly initiatives ๐ฟ๐ซ. Lastly, Lufthansa gains EU approval to acquire a 42% stake in Italy's ITA Airways, expanding its European market influence ๐ช๐บโ๏ธ.
0. News snippets
Not important enough to expand on, but worth hearing about
French elections first round took place, far right has majority | UK Elections were dominated by the labour party (left leaning), employees are excited? | Economist published the worlds most livable cities list. A great slogan for your next hotel promotion (if you are on the list of course)
1. Main Hospitality News
Core news related to the industry
Hawaii goes green?
Hawaii governor has signed a โregenerative tourism billโ. Goal is optimize the tourism industry on the island to protect its nature and beaches. How? Well they havenโt gotten their yet. The bill is there to establish a โframeworkโ. Will keep you updated on what exactly they will be doing to turn US number 1 island destination into a sustainable paradise. More here.
Radison goes through โDigital Transformationโ
Radison is undergoing a digital transformation. From migration to a single website down to improving the digital guest journey. An interview with their Global VP Raul Alvarez Barrera sheds some light on how has it been so far and what exactly has been done. Personalized loyalty program, guest app, 3D tours etc. All are now on offer. Funny enough no mention of digital check-ins. Perhaps in the next 5 year plan. More here.
Another 260 billion for the LATAM travel sector
Reports, reports, reports. Another is out. I know you are just as excited as we are. WTTC together with VFS Global have partnered together and โrevealedโ that tourism is going to add another 260$ Billion to the economy of Latina America in the next 10 years. A โvery comprehensiveโ report that I am sure didnโt just look up average GDP growth annually for the continent and multiplied the current GDP volume of the travel sector by that. Unless of course they had access to some revolutionary data pool, that nobody else does. More here.
International flight traffic on the rise
Airlines traffic volume is on the rise. 10.7% to be more specific compared to last year. It is almost like a global pandemic is over, resulting crisis might be subsiding too and now people are flying again? Interestingly enough, different regions are having different upticks. While International demand is 14% higher and domestic only 4%. Maybe globalization is not going after all? We at Le Portee definitely do not know. More here.
Airport cuts CO2 emissions by 94%
Did you ever sit down and wonder, which airport in Europe won the eco-award? We didnโt either. Nonetheless, the Toulon-Heyeres got it. How? They cut their direct CO2 emissions since 2018 by 94%. Basically at 0 now. There are other prizes categorized by size. Oslo airport is the winner amongst the biggest airports in Europe for its efficiency, autonomous snow removal, baggage delivery etc. Most interesting is that Luton, the 4th least favourite airport amongst passengers in London won the award in its size category. How? With most happiest employees of course. More here.
Lufthansa buying another airline
Final topic of this week is Lufthansa getting the final approval from EU to take 42% of a major Italian Airline ITA. This adds to Lufthansaโs already pretty big portfolio of swiss airlines, brussels, Euro Wings and a few more. If you are flying in Europe you will have likely booked with a Lufthansa partner or part owned subsidiary. The EU commission made Lufthansa give up some major routes to competitors in order for them to be allowed to grow their little empire. More here.
2. Externalities
Econimics, finance, geopolitics. All have an impact on the hospitality sector.
Oil prices going up
Oil, gas and metals. Topics you only hear off in some distant parallel world, which doesnโt influence you or your decisions. Well too bad, because this quarter ING has put a small article together outlining how the prices for Oil are highest they have been in a while. Due to potential shortages as a result of the Israel - Palestine conflict & hurricane Beryl that could disrupt oil production in the gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile OPEC (a oil producing country union) is decreasing production โas agreedโ for this quarter. Impact for us small people? Higher costs for most things, marginally higher but still. Slow death is still death.
Trumps Peace plan? Russia: โNope.โ
Trump said, he can end the war in 1 day if he gets elected. The UN representative for Russia says he canโt. That is it :P. More here.
3. Academia
Scientific papers related to the topics above. For those who want to know for sure ;)
Brand transgressions and impact on guest perspective
This week a group of scientists studied the impact hospitality brands have on their loyal fans. Specifically how far can the brand go from what they promised within their CSR initiatives and guests actually becoming disloyal. Result are: are pretty far. Make guests happy and the rest can be rationalized. More here.
4. Readables
Books, podcasts & the big stuff.
Book about how Russian become what it is today
Russia this, Russia that. How about we recommend you something out of the ordinary this week. โWe. The diary of the fallโ. Is a book written by a โbannedโ Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky, trying to outline how Russia got to where it is today. For now we could find a Russia and and a German edition. English one likely coming soon.
5. Tips & Tricks Tools & SaaS
Any new software you can use? Industry tricks you missed?
Top Investors into the travel sector
Have you recently started a company & just by chance itโs in the travel sector? Well Phocuswright has put together not only a list of top startups in the industry but also investors who are focused specifically on our fine economic sector. Hence check it out in case money and partners is something you are looking into improving.
Hotel Tech Annual Review
Another hotel tech annual yearbook was released. A collection of expert opinions on various hotel tech topics. Some of which were: how to deal with data leaks, personalization of offers, sleep tech and so on. An interesting array of ideas from all ends of the spectrum.
Hotel builds a guest community
An interview with the founder of a slightly different apartment hotel chain from Tokyo should provide some insight into how modern hoteliers are offering something new. โSection Lโ has the digital check-in and is trying to become a top employer amongst its peers. Topics we have heard of before. Something new they are offering is guests sharing travel tips with guests. When you stay with them, you become part of the community of other guests who all exchange info. More here.