A CEO's pay package is one barometer to measure the strength of a company and it looks like Marriott, Wyndham and Hilton are pleased with their 2014 financials. Starwood's former CEO Frits van Paasschen made out well too but with the company's growth problems there's no telling what the new CEO's package will look like for 2015.
For now, all things seem to be coming up roses for the new Wyndham Rewards program. Provided their program stabilizes and builds trust with travelers, the loyalty members should come.
Hotels now view college recruiting events as marketing opportunities just as much as hiring opportunities as well as ways to bridge the gap between industries and incentivize business students interested in hospitality careers.
With such a broad range of products across so many markets, Holmes must look at the top-level changes in guest expectations in order to meet as many customers' needs and desires as possible.
Room Key, the joint venture by Choice Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott and Wyndham, hasn't set the world on fire, and doesn't appear to have had much of an impact on the chains' businesses.
If chains such as Wyndham follow Hilton Worldwide's lead and enable their guests to reserve specific rooms, then photography and video will likely become an even more important part of booking and post-booking decisions.
Marriages between major, global hotel groups would indeed be tremendously complex, but they are certainly not out of the question. Wyndham reportedly thought that a tie-up with InterContinental Hotels would be very practical.