NEW YORK — Hawaii-based Springboard Hospitality's CEO Ben Rafter says he sees growth opportunities across the U.S. but especially in the company's main focus areas of Hawaii and the West Coast.
On the newest episode of the Hotel News Now podcast, Rafter said there are reasons for optimism in both San Francisco and Hawaii.
Rafter said he sees "the pendulum swinging back" in San Francisco and similar cities such as Portland, Oregon.
"A lot of the policies that the government was trying have not worked, and they've realized that," he said. "The problem is public perception has not swung back, so time will solve all problems."
Meeting and event planners will have to once again get on board with San Francisco being a favorable destination for the long-term rebound, but that's also just a matter of time, he said.
"I think if I'm a meeting planner right now, I'm saying 'Do I take the chance and book a meeting in San Francisco when I can choose Nashville or Las Vegas or something like that?'" he said.
Hawaii was similarly challenged by the lack of Japanese travelers, fueled in large part because of an unfavorable currency exchange, Rafter said. But overall demand in the market has been buoyed by travelers from the continental U.S., Canada, Australia and Korea. He added once the Japanese traveler returns — with demand levels hovering around half of what was seen before the COVID-19 pandemic — it will further accelerate hotel performance.
"Hawaii has that reminder right now that we need to market to the West Coast and tell them why Hawaii is particularly attractive," he said.
For more from HNN's conversation with Springboard Hospitality's Ben Rafter, listen to the podcast above. Subscribe to the Hotel News Now podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts.