Profit per room falls for mainland Europe: It declined by 9.1% year-over-year in January—the largest margin of decline in this measure since August 2016—as revenues dropped and costs escalated, according to the latest data tracking full-service hotels from HotStats. January is historically a slow month for hotels in Europe and the dip should not portend gloom for the full-year, evidenced by mainland Europe’s very successful year of operation in 2018, during which hotels in the region recorded an 8.8% increase in GOPPAR. The decline in January was led by a 1.3% drop in non-rooms revenues, which fell to €47 (US$53), equivalent to 36.7% of total revenue.
Accor investigates prejudice: Accor has launched an investigation into allegations that staff at one of its Australian hotels, the Ibis Styles Alice Springs Oasis, have been segregating Aboriginal guests in lower quality rooms. The French company said it was “extremely saddened and disappointed” at the revelations, which were reported by the ABC’s Background Briefing program. Accor said it had taken “prompt and decisive action” and ordered “cultural training” for staff.
Canyon gets into wellness: Canyon Ranch has launched a new brand extension, Canyon Ranch Wellness Retreats. Located in Woodside, California, the brand’s first retreat model will offer guests “highly-sensory,” personalized wellness experiences. The property provides three-day, four-day, or seven-day retreats, with 14 guest rooms and 24 additional guest rooms in standalone luxury treehouses. The move comes after owner, Fort Worth, Texas-based Crescent Real Estate purchased the current property, Skylonda Lodge. The new Canyon-branded property is slated to open in summer 2019.