Skip to main content

Hotel Employees, Owners, a Tough 2021 Likely Lies Ahead

WASHINGTON–Credit unions that serve employees in the hotel industry or that have loans and lines of credit out to hotel owners will find little solace in a new report from the hotel industry.
thumbnail_Hotel Closed

The American Hotel & Lodging Association has released its “AHLA’s State of the Hotel Industry 2021,” which examines the high-level economics of the hotel industry’s recovery, the specific impact on and eventual return of business travel, and consumer travel sentiments.

The AHLA reported the pandemic has been devastating to the hospitality industry workforce, which is down nearly four-million jobs compared to the same time in 2019. While some 200,000 jobs are expected to be filled this year, overall, the accommodations sector faces an 18.9% unemployment rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, half of U.S. hotel rooms are projected to remain empty in 2021.

“Business travel, which comprises the largest source of hotel revenue, remains nearly nonexistent, but it is expected to begin a slow return in the second half of 2021,” the association reported. “Among frequent business travelers who are currently employed, 29% expect to attend their first business conference in the first half of 2021, 36% in the second half of the year and 20% more than a year from now. Business travel is not expected to return to 2019 levels until at least 2023 or 2024.”

Leisure travel is expected to return first, with consumers optimistic about national distribution of a vaccine and with that an ability to travel again in 2021, according to the AHLA. The report found that heading into 2021, consumers are optimistic about travel, with 56% of Americans saying they are likely to travel for leisure or vacation in 2021. While 34% of adults are already comfortable staying in a hotel, 48% say their comfort is tied to vaccination in some way.

Other top findings in the report:

  • Hotels will add 200,000 direct hotel operations jobs in 2021 but will remain nearly 500,000 jobs below the industry’s pre-pandemic employment level of 2.3 million employees
  • Half of U.S. hotel rooms are projected to remain empty
  • Business travel is forecasted to be down 85% compared to 2019 through April 2021, and then only begin ticking up slightly
  • 56% of consumers say they expect to travel for leisure, roughly the same amount as in an average year
  • Nearly half of consumers see vaccine distribution as key to travel
  • When selecting a hotel, enhanced cleaning and hygiene practices rank as guests’ number two priority, behind price.

“COVID-19 has wiped out 10 years of hotel job growth. Yet the hallmark of hospitality is endless optimism, and I am confident in the future of our industry,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA.

Comments

Post a Comment

Please no profanity or political comments.

Popular posts from this blog

'Tis the season for fraud! Teller questions if member fraud is suspected.

  When a credit union employee suspects a member may be subject to fraud, they should initiate a careful conversation focusing on the nature of the transaction and external influences. The goal is to help the member identify red flags without the employee asking for sensitive personal information that the credit union should already have on file.  Initial Verification Questions    .pdf Before discussing the specifics of the suspicious activity, the employee should confirm the member's identity in accordance with established internal protocols.  Questions About the Transaction/Activity If the member confirms they are conducting a suspicious transaction (e.g., a large wire transfer or purchase of gift cards ), the employee should ask questions to help the member pause and think critically:  "What is the purpose of this transaction?" "Do you personally know the person or business you are sending money to?" "Have you ever met the...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

    Thanksgiving, is a day when we pause to give thanks for what we have! www. NCOFCU .org   Have a Safe a...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Hybrid? Work from Home? Office? The Debate Over The Ideal Work Environment Continues in CUs

 The Still-to-be-Answered Question About Work By Ray Birch MADISON, Wis.—With several years’ experience now under their belts, what has turned out to be the most productive work structure for credit unions in the wake of the pandemic—return to office, work from home, hybrid? It’s a challenging question, one compounded by the fact many CUs lack objective metrics for measurement, according to one person. “As we all know, credit unions first jumped to remote work and then things came back a bit as they tried to create a work environment that as closely as possible reflected ‘normal,’” explained Lesley Sears, VP of consulting services at CUES. Sears pointed out when credit unions shut down at the b...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Are You Holding Your Credit Union Back? A Directors’ Guide to Stepping Up Your Game & Staying Relevant

These are harder questions ...     May Blog - Asking Some Harder Questions ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Loan Growth Part 3

MADISON, Wis.–Credit union loan balances rose 1.1% in February, faster than the 0.2% reported in February 2021, even as membership growth slowed significantly during the first two months of 2022, according to data released as part of CUNA Mutual’s April Trends Report. The Report, which is based on data through February, showed overall loan growth was 9.6% during the last 12 months. What is actually happening below the surface? According to the Trends Report, consistent with the trend line the analysis shows large credit unions reported significantly faster loan growth in 2021 as compared to smaller credit unions. Credit unions with assets greater than $1 billion reported loan growth of 8.4% compared to credit unions with assets less than $20 million, reporting loan growth of 0.9%. Here's a look at how credit unions performed by category, according to the newest Trends Report” ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Sunday reading - What's the story behind Thanksgiving?

What's the story behind Thanksgiving? While European settlers in North America had long observed days of thanks, prayer, and reflection, the “ first Thanksgiving ” most often refers to a 1621 meal between the Pilgrims and the native Wampanoag people.   In 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared a national Thanksgiving Day on the final Thursday of November to be celebrated each year. A large meal shared with loved ones is the centerpiece of most Thanksgiving celebrations, where the average gathering size is seven and most people consume 3,150-4,500 calories .   What began as a neighborly meal to celebrate a successful harvest has transformed into an annual economic and cultural powerhouse: The day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for air travel as Americans prepare to eat upward of 40 million turkeys  and 80 million pounds of cranberries. ... Read what else we  learned about the holiday here . ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Fed cuts interest rates for the second time this year

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowered interest rates for the second time this year in a continued bid to prevent unemployment from surging. Fed officials voted for another quarter-point rate cut, lowering their benchmark lending rate to a range between 3.75% and 4%, the lowest in three years. It is the first time since the Fed’s rate-setting committee was established in the 1930s that officials have set monetary policy while lacking an entire month of crucial government employment data due to a government shutdown. ____________________________________ Check out NCOFCU's additional features: First Responder Credit Union Academy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Blog Job Board
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Trump Administration Reverses Course, Restores CDFI Fund Staff In Major Win for Credit Unions

WASHINGTON—In a sharp reversal of the Trump Administration’s earlier move, the mass reduction-in-force (RIF) notices issued to all employees of the CDFI Fund last month have been rescinded, according to internal emails reviewed by Punchbowl News. The notices had threatened terminations in December as part of a broader effort by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Director Russ Vought to pressure congressional Democrats to drop their objections in the budget-funding fight. For the credit-union movement, the signal is loud and clear: critical community-development infrastructure may yet be preserved, sources stated. “Reinstating the entire CDFI Fund staff is an essential and welcome step toward restoring a program that has proven itself indispensable to underserved and military communities,” said DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer Jaso Stverak. “The CDFI Fund isn’t just another federal initiative—it is a lifeline for servicemembers, veterans, and low-income families who rely on miss...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

A Preview of What Call Reports Are Likely to Reveal

By Ray Birch LAKE FOREST, Ill.—An early analysis of what call reports are likely to show this year when it comes to overdraft revenue indicates credit unions should be prepared for increased scrutiny and criticism from legislators, the media, consumer groups and, of course, the banking industry. All credit unions of more than $1 billion in assets—438 out of 4,702 CUs—will need for the first time ever to report their overdraft revenue separately this year. And when they do, data from the latest Moebs $ervices OD survey—which is based on a company poll in January of FIs’ 2023 year-end data—indicates the attention being paid to how credit unions price overdrafts and the income generated is going to heat up, according to Michael Moebs, economist and chairman of Moebs $ervices. ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Zelle Says It Will Allow Users to Make International Payments Using Stablecoins

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz .–   Zelle  has announced plans to allow users to start making international payments using stablecoins. The move by Early Warning Services, which operates the P2P payments network Zelle and which is owned by a consortium of large banks, comes in the wake of the passage of the GENIUS Act, which is designed to usher stablecoins into the regulated financial system. Stablecoins are a digital currency that is pegged to a fiat currency such as the U.S. dollar. As the CU Daily reported  here , credit unions were strongly urged during an event last week to not just start paying attention to stablecoins but to begin taking action as interchange income is threatened. Similarly, analysts said the move by Zelle to help users move money across borders is a defensive move in response to what is expected to be the growing use of stablecoins by consumers and businesses. Early Warning Services did not indicate how it would work or when it would launch, according to sever...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»