Waikiki’s Halekulani Hotel will close until mid-2021
Management at Waikiki’s iconic Halekulani Hotel informed employees that the Honolulu, Oahu, property will close until July 2021 for renovations it says it can no longer wait to complete. In a video message, the hotel’s chief executive officer thanked employees for their courage and perseverance during the ongoing pandemic — but said the uncertainty brought on by coronavirus necessitated the decision to begin the improvements.
Consumer engagement with travel sites dips
After a catastrophic month of April for travel brands, signs of improvement in travel site visits and bookings began to emerge, according to data from media firm Comscore. However, as news began to intensify in June about rising COVID-19 cases following state re-openings, data is now showing an erosion. Coronavirus news has only gotten worse over the past couple of weeks, and the time consumers are spending on travel sites (engagement) has continued to decline into July.
IHIF conference moved to May 2021
The International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) will officially be moved from March 8-10 2021 to May 4-6 2021 at the InterContinental Berlin, Germany. Representatives from the conference, which was canceled this year due to the pandemic, released this statement: “Despite not being able to bring the industry together this year at IHIF, we sincerely hope this time has allowed for further recovery for your businesses. As you know, the health and safety of each of our attendees, partners, clients and employees is and always will be our top priority.”