Insights

The hospitality industry has long been defined by consistency, service, and trust. But in recent years, disruptors like Airbnb and Vrbo have rapidly gained market share, appealing to travelers seeking space, flexibility, and local experiences. For hotel sales and marketing professionals, this has forced a fundamental question: How can we compete? 

For years, online travel agencies (OTAs) dominated the perception game, widely regarded by travelers as the go-to source for scoring the best hotel deals.

What’s next for hospitality? Between generational shifts in the workforce, skyrocketing guest expectations, and new pressures on boutique hotels, uncertainty abounds.

The event exemplified HSMAI’s mission to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue. Developed in collaboration with its Commercial Strategy Conference Advisory Board, the program delivered a balance of strategic vision and tactical value.

Hospitality loyalty programs have come a long way and with a new market of guests, where are hospitality loyalty programs headed next to remain relevant and engage rewards members?

HSMAI honored the 2024 Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality Sales, Marketing, Revenue Optimization and Distribution — recognizing leaders from hospitality, travel, and tourism organizations for their accomplishments. Nancy Johns, Marketing Executive at JC Resorts is one of these honorees.   

Understanding the true cost of a hotel booking isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. Between marketing investments, agency fees, and labor costs, even a “direct” booking isn’t always the most profitable. 

Sales. Marketing. Revenue Management. Distribution. When these functions operate in silos, the result isn’t just internal frustration, it’s missed revenue, slower decision-making, and inconsistent guest experiences.  

As generational preferences shift, hotel revenue managers must stay attuned to how different age groups impact pricing, booking behaviors, and overall guest expectations.