Digital marketers are currently being faced with a once-unimaginable shift: the end of third-party cookies. Over the past few years, users have become more aware of how companies track their data, and they’ve started pushing back on an increasingly intrusive online experience. Regulators have even stepped in and enacted laws to protect users, including GDPR in Europe and the CCPA in California. At the same time, the rise of mobile has decreased the value of browser-based, desktop-focused cookies. As a result, marketers are scratching their heads as to how they will proceed.

Amadeus’ Demand360® data shows worldwide hotel occupancy increasing from 31% in January 2021 to 46% in April 2021. China and North America are leading the way, recording occupancy levels of 62% and 51% respectively during April 2021. Since the start of the pandemic, hoteliers have had to rethink many aspects of their business to accommodate new safety procedures, cater to changing guest needs and survive in an extremely complex operating environment. New research from Amadeus reveals how the hospitality industry worldwide has adapted, as well as the trends hoteliers think are likely to stay as the industry rebuilds. Amadeus’ Demand360® business intelligence data shows that hotel occupancy levels are now on an upward trajectory . Worldwide occupancy reached 46% in April 2021, up from the low point of just 13% in April 2020. This means that global hospitality occupancy has climbed two-thirds of the way back to pre-pandemic norms of around 70% for this time of year. The data also shows the booking lead time is lengthening, indicating growing consumer confidence to plan ahead. For much of the past year, nearly all reservations across the world were made within 0-7 days of travel. In recent weeks, bookings made on the same day of travel, which are the most problematic for the industry to accommodate, have shrunk globally from 39% the first week of 2021 to 23% the week of April 25, 2021, and 31-60 day bookings increased from 6% the first week of 2021 to 11% the week of April 25, 2021. The Rebuilding Hospitality report incorporates a survey of 688 global hoteliers delivering new insights into current sentiment and plans: Significant growth optimism: There is a sense of optimism as 30% of hoteliers anticipate opening one or multiple sites in 2021. Leisure travelers are driving recovery: The majority (63%) of hoteliers worldwide think that leisure travel will drive their recovery with domestic leisure by far the highest contributor (45%). In line with this, Amadeus data shows that US, China, and the rest of Asia are starting to see an increase in OTA booking volume, shifting the focus away from a dependence on direct bookings during the pandem Recruiting will be a high priority: Over half (59%) of global hoteliers anticipate that they will need to hire new staff in 2021. Opinion on vaccine passports divided amongst hoteliers: Over half of Asian hoteliers say they are considering asking for vaccine passports before permitting guests to stay whereas just under half of hoteliers in the Americas say they will definitely not be adopting this approach. In EMEA, nearly half of hoteliers are uncertain on their strategy in this area. When considering the aspects of the pandemic pivots that will be here for the longer term, the report reveals: Enhanced hygiene measures are here to stay: Over a third (32%) of hoteliers think that they will always need significant social distancing, sanitization and visible hygiene measures. Long-term reduction in guest contact and stayover cleans: 20% of global hoteliers indicate they will keep interaction between staff and guests to a minimum for the long term, and 21% plan to reduce daily housekeeping for guests. Personalization could help cross the contactless hospitality divide: Over a quarter of respondents (30%) said that contactless tech to support personalized guest experiences was one of the developments in hospitality they were most excited about as we emerge from the pandemic. Around one in four hoteliers (24%) went on to say they would be turning to technology to support personalized experiences making sure the ‘human touch’ of hospitality is not lost. Work ‘staycations’ and long stay rental investments: Creative business pivots like offering work ‘staycations’ and investment in facilities that help travelers elongate stays have helped hoteliers test out new strategies to access new guest segments. Hoteliers report that these will stay as part of the portfolio for the long-term. Francisco Pérez-Lozao Rüter, President, Hospitality, Amadeus comments, “The data and trends from this report are intended to draw together insights from hoteliers around the world as we work together as an industry to plan our recovery. With lower restrictions in place, the US market has provided some early indicators of traveler behavior that could help other international hoteliers understand where they are in the stage of their own recovery. One of the key takeaways from our research and report is that technology will play a central role in the recovery of the hospitality industry, as we found globally 41% of hoteliers plan to spend the same or more on IT this year than they did in 2019. At Amadeus, we are committed to investing in our industry and providing the technology that will help hotels to pivot their strategies and power future growth.” Katie Moro, Vice President of Data Partnerships, Hospitality, Amadeus says, “One year on from the start of the pandemic we are really pleased to see the early indications of traveler confidence and an uptick in some hotel bookings. Now, more than ever, data is so critically important across an entire hotel’s business as it informs not only revenue potential but also marketing strategies, staffing and occupancy profile. We want to help hoteliers understand how all the different pieces of data connect together. Data is the foundation that helps you build a better plan and from there, your property is so much stronger from the ground up.” The Rebuilding Hospitality report highlights the opportunities for hoteliers to rebuild and thrive in 2021 by combining survey data of 688 hoteliers worldwide with the latest insight from Amadeus’ Demand360® business intelligence solution. The survey was managed by Amadeus and conducted anonymously with global hoteliers in March and April 2021. The report seeks to surface hospitality trends that have defined the industry during the pandemic and the best practice examples and advice on how hoteliers can plan for recovery. To learn more about the data and insights, download the report here. Methodology Amadeus surveyed 688 hoteliers across the world in March and April 2021 to capture data for this report. The report incorporates data from Amadeus’ Demand360®, the industry’s only comprehensive forward-looking business intelligence solution. Trusted by more than 30,000 hoteliers worldwide, Demand360® provides 2 years of historical market data plus one year of forward-looking, on-the-books occupancy data to empower hoteliers to create their most profitable revenue strategies and outperform the competition.

Hoteliers are challenged to meet ever-increasing expectations by customers who have been spoiled and educated by the retail industry. Customers now expect the same level of attention and detail. Historically however, hoteliers have been depending on a myriad of systems in order to get to the end result of delivering true guest engagement and an enhanced guest experience. In addition, new vendors and solutions are launching every day which raises the question, how do hoteliers cope? How do they prioritize? What should hoteliers be looking out for? And ultimately, how should they think about the future of travel, and what technology solution should they be looking for that lets them focus entirely on the guest?

Shiji's IcePortal has announced that it has recently partnered with Minor Hotels to provide visual content management for the hotel group.

Nomadix® Inc​., a technology leader in hospitality and multi-tenant industries, today announced the appointment of Richard Wagner as director of certification and compliance to drive the adoption of its technology portfolio in global and regional hospitality brands and ownership groups. With three decades of technology implementation and management, and large hotel brand expertise, he will lead Nomadix certification efforts for new products, provide technology guidance to customers, and ensure adherence to technological standards for individual brands.

ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions as a comprehensive provider of hospitality's latest security access technology, has announced the successful deployment of VingCard Signature RFID door locks and lockers alongside Mobile Access at The Fuzzy Log hotel in Slovenia. An eco-friendly property offering an eye-catching contemporary design along with cabin, capsule or glamping booking options, The Fuzzy Log's adoption of ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions technology ensures that guests can be protected from both physical security threats and germ exposure risks while always guaranteeing total access convenience.

As hoteliers prepare to open their doors next week, new research by the leading hospitality software company Guestline, reveals the future of operations and guest management is firmly digital and contact-free. Implementing effective digital marketing strategies alongside contactless and online solutions, both for staff and guests, are set to play key roles in re-opening plans in the weeks and months ahead. More specifically, of those hoteliers surveyed across the Guestline customer base in the UK and Ireland, when asked what their priority is in terms of technology and operations for the year ahead, over a quarter (27%) stated it was digital marketing (including enhancing the website and social media presence), whilst a fifth (20%) stated it was overseeing and managing a contact-free guest experience (including a more digital approach to guest communications, upselling, utilising feedback and check-in/out).

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Greater Washington, D.C. (RMHCDC), has equipped its newly renovated rooms with Amazon Echo devices, powered by Volara, to provide families of locally hospitalized children with access to information and services on voice command. The goal of RMHCDC is to help families faced with pediatric illness to cope better and focus on the needs of their sick child. Volara — leveraging its real-time conversation management software and secure integrations hub — is helping RMHCDC meet that goal with Alexa.

IDeaS, a SAS company, is the world's leading provider of revenue management software and services. With over 30 years of expertise, IDeaS delivers revenue science to more than 15,000 clients in 143 countries. Combining industry knowledge with innovative, data-analytics technology, IDeaS creates sophisticated yet simple ways to empower revenue leaders with precise, automated decisions they can trust. Results delivered. Revenue transformed. Discover greater profitability at ideas.com.

For many, change is a terrifying concept – especially when it comes to business. But what we so often forget is that, although uncomfortable, change is the inevitable catalyst to transformation and innovation. Sometimes, the most disruptive moments in our respective careers are the ones that derive the most meaning, setting us on course for incredible development and professional alignment. And contrary to popular belief, mergers and acquisitions can represent precisely that kind of moment.