Category Archives: Hospitality Insurance

Pennsylvania Hospitality Insurance: Hotels Welcome Reflagging

By Lew Dryfoos | Published January 8, 2013

Pennsylvania Hospitality Insurance: Hotels Welcome Reflagging As a result of the growing economy, the hospitality industry is beginning to recover. During this time, hotel owners are shifting perspectives and implementing changes. While many hotels have been demolished or gone unchanged, as much as 2,500 hotels were reflagged in 2011. According to Smith Travel Research, that is a staggering 39% increase from 2010. Times have changed and new needs need to be met. Some hotel owners have noticed a change in customers and some have noticed a new design trend. Many hotels are taking these new changes as an opportunity to reflag and rebrand. Initially, reflagging can be very costly, but it does pay off in the long run. Reflagging often raises revenue, increases guest count, introduces new marketing strategies, and creates new business relationships. Sought as a promising opportunity to expand profitability, Stephen M. O’Loughlin converted a Marriott to the DoubleTree. O’Loughlin, president of Lodging Hospitality Management had previously worked with Hilton Worldwide on a different project. Although keeping the brand was taken into consideration, reflagging to Hilton was more beneficial. Reflagging allowed O’Laughlin to convert the Marriott into mid-scale hotel brand, DoubleTree. Reflagging and rebranding is more than changing a hotel name. Many executives who reflagged have made improvements by addressing customer complaints and preferences. Some hotels have replaced existing furniture with contemporary furniture and some have hired new employees. The hospitality industry is competitive and hotels are forced to make changes. At Dryfoos, one of our long-time specialties has been providing Pennsylvania Hospitality Insurance to the hospitality industry. If your business is a restaurant, bar, hotel or similar type of organization, you may well have heard of us. We understand your industry. We talk your talk. And we have the insurance products that will fit your unique needs. You may not need it all, but if you’re in the hospitality industry, you need many of them to cover your investments and assets. We’ll show you how to bundle them for maximum coverage and minimal cost. Call us today. 1-800-253-6728 Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/business/to-lure-travelers-hotels-preen-and-change-brands.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=commercial

Also posted in Blog, Business Insurance, Pennsylvania | Tagged Coverage, DoubleTree, Hilton, hospitality, hospitality industry, Hospitality Insurance, hotel chains, hotel insurance, hotels, Insurance, lodging hospitality management, marketing strategies, Marriott, modern hotels, PA, Pennsylvania, plans, program, rebranding, reflagging, worker retention | Leave a comment

Hospitality Insurance: Hotel Wi-Fi Discussed at Conference

By Lew Dryfoos | Published July 13, 2012

Hospitality Insurance: Hotel Wi-Fi Discussed at Conference As a hotel guest, in the future you can expect a few changes; free Wi-Fi, increasingly green buildings, and more communal atmospheres where guests can interact. These predictions were made by three leading hotel owners at a panel discussion held in late June at the National Association of Real Estate Editors annual conference in Denver. Moderated by the Wall Street Journal, the panelists included Marty Collins, chief executive of Dallas-based hotel owner and developer Gatehouse Capital Corp., Walter Isenberg, president and CEO of Denver-based hotel owner and operator Sage Hospitality, and Bernie Siegel, a principal at KSL Capital Partners LLC. Technology dominated the discussion on future trends in the hospitality industry. One of them was the availability of free, reliable Wi-Fi at hotels. Currently, many hotels offer it at a fee to their guests- the panel predicted soon hotels would offer free Wi-Fi for their guests. Even the décor and makeup of the rooms is shifting from more traditional design to more modern and communal feels (think atmosphere at Starbucks). Video and entertainment systems are continuing to evolve and more applications from in-room checkout (now a staple) to booking excursions is all available from the comfort of your hotel room. The final trend all three executives agree upon was the increasingly green movement to make hotels more environmentally friendly. LEED standards would become requirements, rather than options. Mr. Collins expressed his predictions. “I don’t think consumers will pay you one dime more for a LEED building. But you’re not going to get a non-LEED building built in Southern California” or in many other U.S. areas. “I think people who buy hotels five or 10 years from now are going to seriously ding non-energy-efficient buildings.” The hospitality industry represents a unique niche in the real estate industry. They must respond quicker than malls or offices to economic shifts since they can empty or fill up overnight. As a result, hotels have become a marker these days for how the struggling economy is affecting the real estate industry. What is your opinion on emerging trends in the hotel industry? Do you agree with the panelists? We’d love to hear from you. At Dryfoos, one of our long-time specialties has been providing insurance to the hospitality industry. If your business is a restaurant, bar, hotel or…
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